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We
understand that llamas have tough feet that are not prone to things
like foot-rot and certainly our trio have never had a problem. But this
winter has been the wettest in history in Kent and our paddock whose
drainage is not great has been a virtual bog for several months now and
we are worried about their feet. Do you have any advice. Roger R. |
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It
has been the wettest winter in recorded history for most of the UK and
we have had the same worries and uncertainty as to its effect here
in Devon too. There must be a limit to the ability of
llama's feet to withstand such wet conditions. We have been bringing our
herd into the yard ever week or so and doing spot checks on their feet,
especially the youngsters and oldest, but so far so good and we have not
found any that are suffering any ill effects; sores, chapping or
lameness.
In fact their resistance to these adverse conditions has been quite
remarkable.
For those that have the facility, bringing llamas on to hard-standing or
into stabling is another option. We prefer to keep ours out, however, as
much as possible.
We would very much like to hear from
other owners if their llamas have suffered from being in these
exceptionally wet conditions not only as far as their feet are concerned
but general health too.
Contact
TalkingLlamas
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Is it safe to let llama
browse where there is bracken? We would like them to roam out of
the fields in the summer but are a little concerned just in case it is
poisonous.
Sue T
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Bracken
is classified as a poisonous plant but then sheep seem to know not to
eat it (they graze freely here on Dartmoor and Exmoor where it is
common). On the other hand sheep may have learned the hard way
over millennia of naturalisation:
In South America llamas will have learned
instincts as to which local plants
are poisonous.
It is, therefore, a potential hazard when introducing animals to new
territory where they do not know the flora, that they will not recognise
the plants to avoid. Some say they are warned off by the (often bitter)
taste but I have certainly heard of llamas poisoned by Yew here in the
UK.
If anyone "out there" has experience of llamas grazing
land with bracken, or being poisoned by it (or any other UK flora), we
would be grateful to hear back:
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When
I bought my llamas I was told they would dung in a communal heap. Mine
don't! I know this is probably not a serious problem but I'm curious, is
something wrong? Jenny K. |
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We
asked the same question when we started! Our llamas mostly consider the
whole field their communal dung pile. It can be a problem as they do not
eat the grass around the pile and this area grows as the rest of the
field diminishes. I think the truth is that in certain circumstances
llamas dung in communal piles but we have not worked out what those
certain circumstances are! Certainly our stud males when on their own
will make very neat piles, but that's hardly communal!
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My
llamas are shedding fur really badly. Is this usual? Sandra T. |
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Some
llamas seem to moult more than others, especially on the neck, whilst
some do not moult at all. This process does not seem to respect seasons
either and may be an inherited characteristic, or stress from mating,
calving etc. Check for worms and skin parasites.
Some llamas seem to have a tendency to lose
their neck hair while others don't. Any thoughts on that aspect? Pete W
I seem to remember a U.S University (Colorado?)
was studying neck hair loss but never heard the results. R.N.C
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My
llamas appear to be losing handfuls of wool. I was wondering if you
could tell me whether it is normal for them to lose large quantities of
wool/moult, or whether maybe I should have concerns about nutrient
deficiencies or something? Any advice would be greatly appreciated… Jo
T |
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If
they're actually getting bald or near bald patches there may a problem
of some sort: skin infection, parasites or nutrition deficiency (I doubt
nutrition deficiency).... It's obviously difficult for you to determine
what is "normal" but if your own feelings tell you it is
excessive it might be worth having your vet check them. First have a
look at the skin for any crustiness, peeling, soreness
etc. They may need worming more frequently and Ivomec (not licensed for
llamas) should get rid of any parasites.
Why not nutrition deficiency? Sam
Fair point! Any answers?
Question: Would the age of these llamas range
from 12-24 months? If so then it is likely that their hormones have
established causing them to present
with the attributes of a short to medium fibred llama i.e loss of neck
and lower leg fibre.
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I
bought a pair of llamas to keep each other company but they do not seem
to like each other. At first Hardy would bother Kismet until she was
really upset, now she seems to be giving him a hard time. How can I get
them to be friends? John A.
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Being
a llama can be a bit of a dog's life! The male has his moment of glory
when a receptive female is 'empty' but once she is in-calf she will
usually reject all his advances and not even allow him too close. Do not
worry, two llamas apart in the same field are still company for each
other compared to one on its own.
That's Llama Llife. Ted.
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I
was given a ten year old male llama who was no longer required as a stud
which I accepted to use as a guard for my sheep. Most of the time he
ignores them and his only contact has been to try to mate some of them?
How can I train him to be a proper guard? Martina P
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Sorry,
you can't train him! The fact that this llama was being given away was
probably a good clue! After eight years as a stud with other llamas he
will be too set in his ways to adapt to this new way of life. Even
gelding him at this late time is unlikely to reduce his male urges!
Llamas make excellent sheep (goat &
free-range poultry) guards but, whilst no guarantees, the key to success
is selection of the right llama in the first place. P.R.
Click on Livestock
Guardians . If you will accept a
few words from an ex-pat living in Canada I would say this is the major
bugbear here too and is very worrying indeed! Either less-than-honest
owners or ignorant owners are dumping unwanted and totally inappropriate
males on unsuspecting farmers and then the llama fails to please. The
farmer then spreads word of his displeasure far more rapidly than the
farmer who went to an expert, paid an appropriate price and is
delighted. Bad news always travels fastest. But the facts speak for
themselves, like you say - a llama properly chosen by someone who
understands the subject will usually work wonders. James T, B.C
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I
lost a lovely llama aged fifteen. The vet considered it simply to be
following liver failure in old age. I thought she would live into her
twenties. What are your thoughts about this please? Veronica. L
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This is
a question close to our hearts too: one which more and more owners will
have to face as time in this relatively new (for Europe/North America) industry
goes on.
On the whole I cannot help wondering if
longevity is exaggerated. Sure some live into their twenties but is this
a true average? Over-feeding on rich pasture is a common tendency of
loving owners and over-weight llamas are likely to live less long.
Over-feeding of concentrates in particular is likely to lead to early
liver failure.
We would be especially interested to receive
more feedback on geriatric llamas and the (average) ages experienced
with your llamas.
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I
have five female llamas and two unrelated stud males. All gave birth
this summer but only one gave birth on the expected date after first
mating. Does the problem lie with the llamas, their feed or what? Alec F
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Have
your soil checked for copper deficiency.
Sandy
And/or
selenium deficiency and zinc
deficiency (which locks in the
copper/selenium.
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I have read that some people are using their
llamas in therapy?. Is this true and does it really help?
Anon. |
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Llamas do seem to have a special affinity with
the young and elderly. For more on this topic visit Llama
Karma
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Hello,
I wonder if you can help? I have a twelve year old female llama with a
bad abscess in the bone of her jaw. My vet says she is too old to
operate and we've tried every antibiotic with no success of eliminating
it. Unfortunately I cannot look after her properly because I am away a
lot. Would someone like to have her at no charge providing they are
prepared to bathe and clean her abscess daily? I am in the Midlands.
Rhona |
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I
have three llamas, a male and two females. One of the females toe nails
need trimming although the others are absolutely fine. She will not let
me pick up her feet. What should I do? And why haven't the others' nails
grown too?
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The
need to trim does vary greatly from llama to llama. We have many whose
nails have never need trimming in ten to fifteen years whilst others
have required an occasional trim. Generally, depending on the ground
they live on, the nails will wear down or break off as they grow.
Occasionally, however, some will get too long and too hard to break off.
As with most management needs that are not
emergencies and that your llamas are not used to, plan ahead. In this
case even though the nails need trimming, it can probably wait a few
days/weeks longer and this time can be spent preparing the llama to
accept the work. Start by brushing and stroking from the head along and
down the body along to the legs. Importantly always stand in a position
that will avoid kicks should they come. If the llama is unco-operative,
just start again and keep trying. Most will come to accept these
actions. Once you are stroking at the top of the legs, try to gradually
push the boundaries, going further down the legs each time. With
patience and repetition - in short sessions- you should find your llama
accepts this until eventually you reach the feet. As you progress,
change from stroking to gentle then firm holding of the leg as your hand
slides down it.
The aim is to get to the point where your llama
will allow you to lift her feet. However, even if you never get to that
point, at least after a couple of weeks of repeated leg stroking and leg
holding, then the unavoidable need to trim should be far less traumatic
for the llama and involve far less difficulty when you come to carry it
out. Whilst it may need two of you, one to hold the leg, the other to
trim, the best result will be achieved if restraint is minimised in the
way suggested.
Any other suggestions?
Yes, if the above fails - and I suspect it will
in a lot cases, you may need your vet to sedate your llama. Gary.
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