My Llama experience has been a good one. I have an older gelded llama, that fits right in with the sheep, and seems to like them alot. The funniest part is he has really bonded with my 4 horned ram, and they make an amusing pair. The best part of this llama is he is so laid back.. The ram really wanted to take him on when he first showed up, and the llama was very much into passive resistance, he never so much as spit...which by the way he has not done in our 6 months together. He is very gentle and interested in the young lambs, and does keep a watchful eye out for any new animals in the area. He takes my dogs in stride, but will chase them out of the pasture if he decides they need to go. We are surrounded by farms who have lost lambs to cougars and coyotes, but either through luck or llama, we have been safe. The other bright side is that llamas are such interesting characters, very thoughtful creatures, and they just need the same care that the sheep do. He is an asset to my horses which are no longer terrified of him. I put this fellow in with the sheep right off, and never have regretted his arrival. The price for a gelded llama should not be too exorbitant so check around for a deal. Other sheep folk in my area have had very good luck with llamas as well.
Kate Barrett
Ruby Peak Jacobs
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Spahr <spahrfarm at dragonbbs.com>
To: Jacob List Members <jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
Date: Wednesday, May 03, 2000 8:08 AM
Subject: [Jacob-list] Guard Llama
We purchased a llama about 4 years ago when he was 6 months old. We have coyote problems around here, and heard they might help. When he was older, we began to be suspicious when we would see a dead lamb or two in the pasture with no apparent cause of death. Then one day I saw him separate a newborn lamb from its mother and knock it on the ground. My husband intervened and we separated "Flash" from the flock. We had the vet come out and castrate him last year. The group of ewes he is out to pasture with have not had their lambs yet,
so we will watch very closely to see if his behavior problem has been corrected.
Mary Spahr
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