Llamas exploded in popularity over the past few years – and for good reason! Llamas are an interesting species of animal with amazing qualities that you might have not even known about! Here’s some insight into why llamas are making the top of the list for farmers and families alike.
1. Female Llamas Give Birth Every Other Year
Unlike many other animals, llamas can only give birth once every other year. Llamas have a gestation period of about 10-20 months with the average being 350 days.
Llamas tend to only give birth to one baby each time they get pregnant as well. Twins are extremely rare.
Having offspring few and far between could be seen as a negative to some people. Inexperienced llama owners, however, would agree that that this is an easy way to manage your herd without getting overwhelmed by offspring.
2. Llamas Are Related to Camels
Have you ever noticed that llamas look somewhat like camels? Well, that is because llamas are related to the camel family!
Scientists believe that llamas evolved from camels through evolution all the way back when species were crossing the Bering land bridge. Animals that went north eventually evolved into what we know as camels, and the animals that went south became llamas.
Like camels, llamas are working animals and are used to carrying up to 120 pounds; however, llamas you should not ride llamas.
3. Llamas Make a Variety of Noises
Llamas make different noises if you listen closely.
Llamas become easy to understand when you understand what noises they make because most sounds they make are reserved for specific situations. There should rarely be situations where your llama catches you off guard with a noise.
You will hear sounds like:
- Humming, particularly from female llamas to their offspring
- Gurgling from males when they are looking for a mate
- Screaming if there is a fight
- Rapid squeaking that llamas use as an alarm call
4. They Don’t Always Spit
I don’t know about you, but for a long time, I always thought of a llama as an animal that would spit whenever it got the chance. That is actually far from the truth!
Llamas use spitting as a defense mechanism; yes, that is true. Spitting, however, is most often used as a warning that llamas give to other llamas, not against humans.
Llamas will spit when they feel threatened. If you get in the line of fire, it’s likely because you were in the wrong. You did something that made the llama upset, which is why the llama reacted by spitting!
5. Llamas Provide Many Uses
While llamas are killed for their meat and hide in some countries, there are many humane ways that farmers use llamas.
Llama wool is increasing in popularity because it is lighter, warmer, and softer than sheep’s wool. Many crafters and consumers also choose llama wool over sheep’s wool because it is hypoallergenic, meaning that it won’t irritate sensitive skin. The main drawback of llama wool is that it is the more expensive wool option.
People even keep llamas as valued pets because of their positive disposition. Llamas are calm, intelligent, and predictable. This means that families feel comfortable allowing small children and other pets around their herd of llamas.
Llamas can also be used as guardian animals. Llamas are known to adopt other herds of small animals, like goats or sheep, and protect them from threats. On any farmland, predators such as coyotes are always a threat, but llamas will take it upon themselves to keep their adopted family safe.
6. Llamas Are Easy to Transport
We’ve all fallen victim to those videos on the internet of farmers transporting farm animals like cattle as they struggle to herd their massive cattle into massive trailers. Llama owners don’t have the same issue!
Professional farmers will find it easy to transport llamas with the equipment they own for other animals. If you have a home with some open space, transportation isn’t a barrier. People can load llamas into minivans or trucks because llamas usually like to ride while sitting with their legs tucked beneath them. They become so compact that you could even fit smaller llamas in the back seat of your car!
Worried about what happens when a llama needs to go to the bathroom? Don’t be! Like any good passenger, a llama will wait to stop if he or she needs to poop or pee.
7. Llamas Are Clean
We’ve all been to farms where there is manure almost everywhere you step. Maybe you’ve driven through country roads on a hot day and smelled a cow farm a mile away.
Llamas do not cause this issue. Llamas traditionally use a common space to go to the bathroom, where they drop small, odorless pellets. This means that there are no smelly dung piles everywhere. Plus, it’s easier to clean up!
Easy clean up means that you won’t need to purchase any kind of special or expensive equipment if you’re a casual llama owner. You’ll also be able to get the whole family involved caring for the llamas that are an extension of your family!
8. Llamas Have Little Impact on The Environment
The environment is top of mind for many people. Large farms provide important needs for everyone, but families with extra land may be worried about the physical impact of keeping llamas.
Llamas – whether you’re keeping them as pets or livestock – have very little impact on the environment where they’re kept. They do not have hard hooves like horses or cattle might, which inadvertently rip up grassy areas.
Llama feet are made up of two soft pads that do less damage than hiking boots. In addition, they have two nails on each foot, but again, there is little damage done to the soil they walk on.
