anyone have llamas

[steff bugielski]

I have a few questions. I am getting a young male llama at the end of the month. Can I band him like a goat? When do I shear him? Is anyone interested in the wool. He is the most beautiful shade of silver. By the way we need a ' other animal' thread.
Steff

[greenacresusa]

We have several llamas (4 adults and 1 baby). Not sure about the banding but for shearing we always try to shear them here (mid-atlantic area) in May before it gets too hot. This way they're ready for the summer time heat and humidity and the wool grows back in time for fall/winter. If it's too hot when you get the llama and he is very matted you may want to do an emergency shearing (just under the arm/leg pits, they shead most of their body heat in that area). We take the wool to local livestock fairs but it doesn't seem to bring much at all these days, same with ebay. Just not as much demand as there used to be. Seems like llamas aren't as much of an exotic animal as they used to be since a lot of people have them now. BTW they are a very social animal you may want to get more than just the one, else he will mope, lots of "humming" and pacing. He might be ok if you have another animal(s), like a horse, cow etc.

And agree, we do need a llama catagory here!!!

[willow_girl]

I believe llamas have to be surgically castrated. Their testicles don't descend until they approach maturity (if I remember correctly).

[Meadowwood]

We had to have the vet come and castrate our young male llama. You do have to cut and remove the testicles. We did our own piglets, but a llama is a lot bigger and if not "put under" I don't think it would willingly submit to the procedure!

Darlene

[Jan in CO]

They definitely are not built the same way as goats or sheep, as far as being able to be banded. I talked to two vets here, and neither was exactly sure about the anesthetics that should be used, but said they could check on it if I were serious about having ours gelded. You should, by the way, if you are going to have them as guard animals with sheep or goats, or they will attempt to breed them when they are in season, which can be fatal for the gals, from what I've read. Good luck!

Jan in Co