FROM
WHERE?Posted 8-2-03
FROM
WHERE?
“Lama” is the term used to
identify the genus of South American Camelids, which includes the two wild
species, guanaco and vicuña, and two domesticated ones, llama and alpaca.
The camel family originated on the plains of North America (flourishing
as recently as 10,000 to 12,000 years ago) after a couple of mass migrations
South & back North, some Camelids crossed the land bridge near present day
Alaska, and evolved into the Bactrian and Dromedary Camels.
The llama, a domesticated beast of burden, is regarded as the premier
symbol of pre-Hispanic South America. The
alpaca was domesticated for use of its wonderfully soft fleece.
The llama was domesticated for it's ability to carry goods for long distances
over the rugged terrain of South America. Lamas were among the world’s earliest domesticated animals, having been
associated with humans for nearly 6000 years.
The first llamas were imported into the United States in the 1920s, but
the national herd started to grow in the 1970s and now numbers about 300,000.
Alpacas made their debut in the US in 1983/84 and now number about
200,000. The imports have come from
Bolivia, Chile Peru and Argintina.
Lamas
communicate their moods with tail, body and ear positions, and with a variety of
vocalizations. They will spit at
each other as a gesture of displeasure, but will not spit at humans unless
handled in a rough or cruel manner. They
rarely bite or kick. They are highly social animals and need the companionship
of other lamas or other livestock. Their
intelligence and their pleasing, diverse personalities provide challenging
opportunities for use and training. Llamas
are aristocratic and regal, yet llamas and alpacas are both easily trained and
have a rather low key, cooperative disposition.
Llama adults
weigh 300 to 400 pounds and stand six feet or more at the tops of their ears.
The newborn llama cria weighs about 25 pounds.
Adult alpacas weigh about 150 pounds and stand about 5 feet tall at the
tops of their ears. At birth the
cria weighs about 15 pounds. The
lama lifespan is about 20 years. The
female is an induced ovulator, and so, if not pregnant, may be bred at any time
of the year. Breeding, when managed
properly, can be productive and profitable.
Alpaca gestation is about 340 days; llamas deliver the cria normally in
about 350 days. Births usually occur in the daytime and are usually single;
twins are rare. The extreme temperatures (27 degrees F at night
to as high as 90 degrees F at mid day) of the Alti Plano of South America has caused the females to adjust birthing
so that the cria can warm up and dry off before the cold of night returns.
The crias quickly
stand to nurse and are bounding about within a few hours. Weaning is done at about six months.
Lamas are
unique among mammals in that they have a long, elliptical blood cells rather
than the normal saucer-shaped cell. This
allows greater adaptability to many environments.
Their evolutionary history has led to lower feed and water requirements
compared to other livestock. Their
diet is simple and inexpensive. Lamas
require a good grade of grass hay, fresh water, and a salt-mineral mix.
Some owners add a grain mix, such as small alfalfa pellets or corn for
working animals, older animals and nursing females.
They can easily become overweight in the lush North American pastures,
monitoring weight is important.
Lamas are
usually disease-resistant; however, like all living things, they can and do
become ill and require occasional care. The
loss rate in properly cared-for herds is amazingly low. Proper hygiene in pens and stalls, regular de-worming, and a
simple and relatively inexpensive preventative medical program under the
direction of a veterinarian is recommended.
Lamas do not require a large space. Three to five adult llamas or eight to ten alpacas can easily live on one irrigated acre of pasture. Most standard 48-inch fences are adequate, and barbed wire is not needed or recommended. A three-sided shelter for extremes of weather is desirable. Animals kept in a large pasture will probably need a small catch pen. Lamas are clean, essentially odor-free and usually defecate in a communal dung pile. Their pelletized manure is easily gathered and is an excellent earth enhancer.