General Information

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" height=75 BGCOLOR="#990080" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04800520eouket.jpg"> <div> <IMG SRC="1d0b1470.png" border=0 width="177" height="71" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=405 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>   </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>General Information</B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC6699" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Winsome Llamas, Mountain Center, CA"><U><B><IMG SRC="27b41160.png" border=0 width="65" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC6699" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B><U>What are Llamas Used For:</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> Breeding, packing, wool production, companion animals and sheep guarding head the list of common llama uses. Because they are so gentle and easy to train, llamas are popular attractions in parades, shows, fairs and community events and are fun to take on school, hospital or nursing home visits. When using llamas for packing, they can carry 25% of their body weight.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Housing & Fencing:</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> Simple but necessary preparations should be made before you bring your new family member home. Fencing can be woven wire, cattle wire panels wooden rails or poles, chain link or electric (although electric is not needed). Barbed wire is not recommended. Your fences should be at least four feet high. A three-sided shelter to provide shade and protection from extreme heat, cold, wind, and rain should also be provided. If you have severe chill factors in winter, a completely enclosed shed is necessary. Heat stress should be a concern if you have hot and especially humid summers. If you llamas are kept in a large pasture, a small 12 – 20 foot square catch pen will make it easier to catch. Feeding and watering troughs should be clean, high enough to be free of possible fecal contamination, and spacious enough to allow access by all llamas. Fresh water should always be available.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Transportation:</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> Llamas are easy to transport and require no specialized equipment. A covered, wind-proof pickup, van, horse or utility trailer with sufficient room for llamas to lay down comfortably works well. Good ventilation is important in both summer and winter. Straw makes excellent bedding in a wind-proof enclosure, and be sure to provide hay for food and offer water at least every 6 hours depending on heat. Llamas normally lie down once the vehicle starts moving. If transporting babies and mothers on long hauls, stop periodically to allow nursing.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#008080" FACE="Tahoma" ><B><U>Care and Feeding:</U></B></FONT><B><U> </U></B><B>If you are familiar with the care of other domestic livestock, you will find llamas comparatively easy to care for, with a minimum of veterinary assistance required. Llamas are highly adaptable feeders, being both grazers (grasses and forbs) and browsers (shrubs and trees). Because of a relatively low protein requirement due to their efficient digestive systems, they can be kept on a variety of pastures or hay. They eat about 2% - 4% of their body weight in dry matter every day. Without pasture, a 100 pound bale of hay will last an adult llama around 10 days. If you’re going to graze your llamas, plan on about 3 – 5 llamas per acre on a moderate-producing pasture. Grain supplement is not normally needed when good hay is available. We feed a mineral supplement that is high in selenium and give each llama 1 pound per day. We also have free choice salt blocks at various locations around the barn.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Water Consumption:</U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B> Llamas require less water than most domestic animals, but should have an unlimited, fresh, clean supply at all times. They tend to drink more in the winter and when working or lactating.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Diseases:</U></B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Tahoma" ><B>Llamas are amazingly hardy animals and have very few problems with disease. To ensure good health, you should establish a regular schedule for cleaning their dung piles, and a preventative medicine program which may include protection from enterotoxemia, tetanus, leptospirosis and internal and external parasites. Llamas should be dewormed at least every three months.</B></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I><B>Information taken from International Llama Association Educational Brochure</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>