Lama - "sister" of a camel

White, black, fawn, red llamas. You can't tell by sight, it's too small, but still the camel's “sister”. And spits so that he would envy.

Fluffy babes from South America

They are foreigners and are just beginning to explore the expanses of our homeland. Some people have an incredible strength for their fragile body, others have an extraordinary warmest wool in the world. They love freedom and are not afraid of wind or frost. Independent and, at the same time, good companions for horses. Kind and complacent, but do not tolerate rough handling. Diet and look after themselves. He looks pretty, but capricious, like camels. That's what they are - fluffy babes from South America.

Types for home breeding

There are only two types of domesticated llamas in the world - Lama and Lama Alpak.

There are classic and woolen llamas.

Classic - with short hair (Tstsara) and medium (Tsutsara).

Woolen llamas: long haired (Tapada). They have whole body covered with wool. And only on the head and on the legs below her knees slightly. And there are completely covered with long hair that hangs long braids to the ankles (Lounda).

The size of llamas with ponies, only more fragile. But the cargo drags several tens of kilograms.

Lama Alpak even less. Height not higher than a meter, and weighs as a person of average height. Its main advantage is light, thin, very soft and dense wool. there is Alpak-Suri and Alpak-Ukiah. In Suri, wool falls to the sides like a mane, and Uakaya looks like a teddy bear. Alpaca wool is three times stronger and seven times warmer than sheep's wool. It is light, soft and so dense that it does not let in water.

Llama meat is a delicacy.

Nutrition

The diet of Lama and Lama Alpaki is similar. Both those, and others need good good nutrition with the addition of proteins and minerals. They need constant access to fresh clean water. Grazing on pastures without harmful and poisonous weeds. They need once a month to give vitamins and drugs for worms. They eat little by little. For the year, one lama on average eats only 500 kg of hay. Them harm overeating. But food should not be scarce.

Here are just Lama Alpak more gentle. Their diet depends on a number of factors: on age (it is different in the young and in the adult animal), gender. Diet differs in pregnant and lactating females.

Diet

The main feed of all types of domestic llamas is grass, and in winter hay. They also eat young leaves and shoots of trees, mosses. In winter, they can be given sliced ​​vegetables, rye bread, and oatmeal. They also love to lick the salt.

Grazing place

Llamas love space. The places of their grazing are wide meadows, large forest open to the sun.

For a couple of llamas you need at least 20 - 30 acres of land, and for three or four individuals - already more than 40. These are collective animals. Can not stand loneliness. They love to graze in herds. Moreover, there should be several females per male. Do not seek a society of other farm animals. But they do not mind if a herd of horses or a flock of sheep grazes nearby.

Llamas are very clean. If they have one range of grazing, they choose a secluded place and arrange a toilet there. All herd goes only there. So lasts 7 - 10 days. And then the lamas choose a new place for the toilet.

Premises

Accustomed to the cool mountain climate in their homeland, llamas do not require special conditions for maintenance. It is enough for them to enclose in the open air fenced with a high fence. Especially if there are other pets in the neighborhood or a road passes.Still, in case of bad weather, you need to put a shed or a part of the pen to cover with a wide awning.

If the llama does not have a pair, other pets must be in the neighborhood. Better - sheep or horses. Llamas do not tolerate loneliness. At the very least, they need at least some company.

The conditions of keeping llamas practically do not require any expenses. The main thing - large areas and maximum freedom.

Care

Llamas do not require careful supervision of a person. They are freedom-loving and can stand up for themselves if required. But, of course, you need to clean their pens, and if they are contained in closed enclosures - periodically change litter. You need to carefully monitor their diet and diet. After all, their quality depends on the growth of young animals, the size of adult animals, life expectancy, the quality of wool.

About once a year, llamas need to cut. In our country, they adapted themselves to shaving with a machine.But lamas are fearful and do not really like this noisy procedure. In Western countries, to protect the nervous system of llamas from unnecessary shocks, animals are still being sheared with special scissors. There is even such a profession - hair cutter. And it is very popular.

If not necessary, the llamas are not sheared. The excess wool is removed by natural means - through the molt of the animal. When a coat reaches a certain critical length, it stops growing on its own.