Golden Pond Farms
Great Pyrenees, Llamas, Pygmy Goats, Nubian Goats and Miniature Donkeys
Llama History
Llamas are members of the camelid family. They are one of the oldest domestic animals in the world. They migrated from North America to South America and took up residence in the Andean mountains with the Inca Indians and other Natives over 5,000 years ago. The International Llama Registry was established 1985.
Llama Facts:
Average birth weight for a "Cria"- 18 - 30 lbs.
Average adult weight - 250 - 400 lbs.
Approximate life span - 20+ years
Breeding age -(male)2-2 1/2 years, (female) 18 mo.-2 years (Act of copulation will induce ovulation) Gestation -350 days)
Requirements: Hardy in most climates and easy to care for, must shear in the Spring at least 1 time a year. Must have adequate shade in summer and shelter in severe weather.
They are very intelligent: Extremely alert, observant, curious, trustworthy, peaceful, stoic, gentle but beautiful creatures.
They are easy to train: They can carry 25% - 30% of their body weight along with their soft pads and their agility makes them very popular for mountain trekking. They are very surefooted and can carry your load as well as entertain you along the way because they are really social animals if they are trained and handled often.
Ecologically friendly: They are excellent foragers and can reach higher than goats and sheep. They also have less impact on plant life than the native deer. They have considerate bathroom habits. Usually Llamas will use the bathroom in a communal dung pile which makes the "clean-up" much easier. However, you must clean up regularly due to them going in a pile or else you can have problems with worms.
Vaccinations and De-worming: Llamas need to be treated every 30 days with ivermectin as a meningeal worm preventative. This is extremely important. The meningeal worm comes from a tick that has been on a white tail deer. Even without deer on your property, there are many ways that your llama may be infected. It is a very serious disease that can be fatal and very hard to treat. That is why the monthly preventative is so imperative to the health of your llamas. They also get a CDT shot annually as an adult. They are easy to care for and they only eat half of what a horse eats. WOW!!
Fiber: Llama fiber is very soft and Lanolin free. It can be spun and woven into warm clothing, blankets, etc.
Why we have llamas? They are our pasture poodles! Actually they are fascinating, so much fun and I love to watch people's first interactions with them. Do they spit? NO! well actually they spit at each other occasionally to control and hog their food at feeding time. I think sometimes if you aren't paying attention you get caught in the crossfire. They love to run up to you and get in your face to smell you breath that's how they identify with you. I call it Llama kissing but they are really just checking you out. They will touch your lips but not bite, lick, or spit.
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