One of the greatest benefits to owning llamas is that llamas are fun! They impart a tranquil atmosphere to their environment and the llama experience is so rewarding that it is frequently used for therapy by psychologists and care givers in situations that range from preschools to rest homes. The Peruvian natives call them their "Silent Brothers".
Llamas have been bred for over 4000 years as beasts of burden. In their homelands they carry packs great distances with a single herder, delivering produce or commodities to market. Pictures of a llama in a canoe with his owner crossing a huge lake in the Andes demonstrates their trustworthiness. Llamas pack about 25% of their weight and excel at this task without the problems associated with traditional packstock. They are extremely quiet, don’t tear up the trails or terrain, are docile and tether easily at night. Llamas should be 3 years old to carry a full load. Conditioning is the key to success. Younger llamas can be trained to pack with light loads as soon as they are weaned. At Silver Sage, we breed for above-average sized llamas and select our packers from proven packing lines.
One of the reasons that llamas are perfect companion animals is that they are safe. This makes them attractive for all ages including toddlers and senior
citizens. Llamas are simply not accident prone. There are approved 4H manuals available for structured programs with that organization. Many areas also have shows which encourage 4H and youth participation. Llamas are easy to keep and have minimal nutritional and space requirements. Because of this, they excel as "barnyard buddies." Training takes a minimal amount of time, particularly when the animals are young. They bond with the trainer and soon learn to enjoy their walks and grooming.
Llamas have two different types of fiber – guard hair and down. The guard hair protects the llamas from the weather and is coarser. It can be used for ropes, and outer garments. The down is both soft and warm. It makes very nice, lightweight garments. Lace knit fabrics are particularly beautiful. Llama fiber contains no lanolin and comes in many natural colors. It can also be dyed and blends well with other fibers such as silk. Other uses include felting and locker hooking.
Llamas are either sheared or brushed to gather the fiber. Most owners leave ½ inch or so of fiber on shorn llamas. Some llamas require two years to grow back their coats fully and some can do so in one year.
Handspinners: Silver Sage Llamas always has raw fiber, washed fiber and processed rovings for sale. Please feel free to email us for more information.
Llamas have been used for predator control in Wyoming for many years. It is only recently, however, that our llama
associations have been able to fund studies that show what an outstanding job llamas are doing in predator control against canines across the country. Silver Sage Llamas sees them as an additional method that can be used to compliment your predator control program. The producer satisfaction numbers are impressive (and available upon request), but the bottom line is, that in most situations, guard llamas are extremely effective. Llamas live long lives and are easy keepers and they only need to save you five or six ewes in their lifetime to pay for themselves. Several producers have said their llama's herding alone was worth the purchase price because their llama brings in the flock at feeding, or through the gates at gathering. Ask yourself if this isn't the year you should consider a guard llama for your operation.
We have been raising llamas in Wyoming for 15 years. Our breeding program has always stressed sound llamas that are above average in size and suitable for packing or guard work. Frankly, not all llamas are going to make excellent predator control llamas and we screen heavily our placements. We maintain a herd of about 50 llamas and often have waiting lists for llamas as guards. Bonding seems to be best achieved during the lambing season and we place most llamas in the spring. We provide an extensive llama care book and as much advice as you wish to help establish your predator control program. Our best recommendations are word of mouth from other producers and we have enjoyed extensive referrals and repeat sales.
Give us a call or send us an e-mail message if you have specific questions about guard llamas.
One of the most rewarding experiences of owning llamas is selectively breeding llamas and admiring the cria (babies) as they romp around the pastures at sunset.
We have many distinct breeding lines, and a visit to Silver Sage Llamas (or our photo pages) can help you discover the type of llamas you might like to raise. Our herd features proven lineage lines, including some proven import blood lines.
Female llamas are usually first bred about 2 years of age and deliver 11 ½ months later. Since llamas are induced ovulators, they can deliver at any time of the year, but we have found that spring and fall births are the most desirable in Wyoming. The cria deliveries rarely require assistance, and are almost always in the daylight hours. The cria are up and nursing in about an hour . The babies are extremely active within only a few hours. Our cria usually weigh about 30 pounds.
Our llamas are all registered with the International Llama Registry, and our studs are blood tested to confirm lineage. Additional breeding information is available via email from us or through the International Llama Association (ILA) pamphlets available from our Links page.
