Llamas - The proven guard animals

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International Llama Association Educational Brochure # 2

Llamas,  who are long-lived, can provide an effective, long-term and economical  alternative for predator control in a variety of farm and ranch  conditions. Sheep and goat producers currently using llamas to guard  their flocks are experiencing high levels of protection from predators.

The  information presented here is drawn from data collected through  questionnaires and interviews with users of guard llamas. Although  recent surveys demonstrate that guard llamas are effective in preventing  livestock losses to predators, scientific surveys and controlled  studies, which track losses to predators in flocks with and without  guard llamas are needed. 

 While  bears, cougars, bobcats, foxes and eagles are predators of sheep and  goats and may be responsible for substantial loss, a 1990 report showed  that coyotes caused 64% and dogs 14% of losses. Previous studies  conducted in the western United States indicated that 76-100% of  predator losses were due to coyotes. Coyotes also account for over 50%  of predator losses to goats in the top five producing states.

In  the West, where most predator losses occur, an average 1-2.5% of the  ewes and 1-9% of the lambs are killed annually. Twenty to 25% of  producers sustained losses that exceeded 10% of their lambs, with some  producers experiencing losses of 16% and higher.

Annual sheep  losses to predators in the United States were estimated at $21.7 million  in 1990 and as high as $32-83 million in previous years. Loss of goats  to predators in the top five producing states was $5.6 million in 1990. 

 Using  llamas as sheep guards in North America began in the early 1980s and  some sheep producers have used llamas successfully for that entire time.  The use of guard llamas has greatly increased since a magazine article  in 1990, when national attention was drawn to the potential use of  llamas for guarding sheep.

Llamas have proven to be very  effective against canines, especially dogs and coyotes. Over half of the  llamas guarding sheep are 100% effective, completely eliminating  losses. Many of these producers previously suffered losses of over a  hundred lambs per year. Some have not suffered a loss to predators in  two to ten years after purchasing guard llamas. An additional 40-45% of  the guard llamas were highly effective in dramatically reducing predator  losses. Only 5-10% of the guards were ineffective.

Although  llamas have been credited by producers with eliminating or reducing  losses to large predators such as bears and mountain lions, some  predators may be too large or too aggressive for the llama. Llamas have  been known to alert herders of large predator attacks. 

 Training - No training or previous association with sheep or goats is required for a llama to be an effective guard animal.
Age  - Llamas of a variety of ages at the time of initial introduction have  proven to be effective guards. Using llamas younger than one year is not  recommended.

Sex - Although intact male llamas are effective  guards, gelded llamas are recommended. Intact males may attempt to breed  the ewes, and could cause deaths or injuries. Gelding a mature intact  llama should be completed several months before introducing him to the  flock to assure he has lost interest in breeding. Too few individual  female llamas are guarding sheep to warrant conclusions on their  effectiveness. Females are very aggressive toward strange canines and  placing several female llamas with sheep in smaller pastures has  prevented predation of sheep.

Ratio - A single llama per flock is  more effective than two or more llamas. Several male llamas tend to  bond with one another rather than with the sheep or goats and may ignore  the flock.

Method of introduction - At first sheep or goats may  be afraid of the llama, and the llama may be cautious of the sheep or  goats. Ideally, a llama should be introduced to the sheep while they are  in a corral or small pasture rather than on open range or large  pasture. The llama should remain in a small area until the sheep and  llama seem well-adjusted and attached to each other. This encourages  bonding between the sheep and llama. A llama introduced in this manner  will be more effective as a guard against predators.

Some llamas  appear to bond more quickly to sheep or goats if they are introduced  just prior to lambing. Research to date has shown that the presence of  lambs or kids at the time of introduction did not influence the eventual  effectiveness of the guard llamas. Many sheep and goat producers  indicate a special bond quickly develops between lambs and their guard  llama and that the llama is particularly protective of the lambs.

Some  newly-introduced llamas are comfortable around people and may actually  seek out human companionship. Livestock producers should avoid contact  with this type of llama and not allow the new llama to become attached  to people. The llama needs to bond with the sheep or goats. 

 Many  llamas have successfully guarded 200 to 1,000 sheep in a variety of  pasture situations. The optimum number that one llama can guard has not  been established and may depend on several factors, such as terrain,  vegetation, size of pasture and density of predators. Although llamas  have been effective in guarding sheep grazing in forests and on open  ranges, insufficient data exists to make firm conclusions relative to  their effectiveness in this environment. 

 Llamas  often live to be over 20 years of age. Although data on longevity of  llamas used for guards is limited, llamas in their late teens are  continuing to be effective guards.

Llamas have a very low rate of  mortality as guards. The Iowa State University study reported the  mortality of only 5% of the 204 guard llamas in their study. In contrast  a national survey by the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station at Dubois,  Idaho, has shown that 50% of guard dogs on ranches died within 18 months  of introduction and 50% of those on farms died within 38 months. The  U.S. Sheep Experiment Station, which developed and promoted methods for  the use of guard dogs, recently purchased llamas to guard their  experimental flocks. 

Most  llamas have an innate dislike for canines. When a llama is placed with a  flock, he often becomes much more protective as he begins to bond with  the flock and to establish and protect a territory.

Most guard  llamas stay continually with the flock and prevent it from dispersing  widely. They often seek an elevated area from which to watch the flock  when it is spread out grazing. A minority of the guards will stay  separated, though near the flocks. Many llamas take complete control of  the flock keeping them together and moving them to feed, water or  shelter.

Llamas are extremely alert and notice most things that  happen in or near the pasture. Llamas use a variety or combination of  methods to protect the sheep or goats. They may immediately run or walk  after a coyote or dog with the intention to either stomp or hit the  predator with their legs and chest. They may place themselves between  the coyote or dog and the sheep or goats. They may also herd the sheep  into a safe area or comer or they may prevent the flock from entering an  area where a predator is located. Some llamas will sound their alarm  call, a high pitched, pulsating vocalization, during these activities or  as soon as they see a predator. Some llamas have been reported to  display extraordinary protective behavior such as herding the sheep to  safety during snow, seeking help when needed, and lying down by newborn  babies to protect them from wind and weather.
 Many  llamas have successfully guarded 200 to 1,000 sheep in a variety of  pasture situations. The optimum number that one llama can guard has not  been established and may depend on several factors, such as terrain,  vegetation, size of pasture and density of predators. Although llamas  have been effective in guarding sheep grazing in forests and on open  ranges, insufficient data exists to make firm conclusions relative to  their effectiveness in this environment.

Although  llamas may initially be aggressive toward the family dog or herding  dogs that the producer uses to move the flock, they usually learn to  tolerate their presence. It is not unusual for the guard llama to chase  herding dogs if they cause the lambs to continually cry out.

It is recommended that guard llamas and guard dogs not be used in the same flock. 

 While  further studies need to be conducted to determine the physical,  behavioral and breeding characteristics that make the best guards,  llamas of many different sizes make effective guardians. A llama  significantly larger than the sheep or goats would have some advantages  in seeing and frightening predators away from the flock.

Llamas  with long body and/or leg wool may need special attention. More frequent  shearing may be required as their wool collects burrs, twigs and  debris.

Llamas train very easily. Training greatly facilitates  their loading, moving and ease of administration of medications, as well  as the working and loading of sheep or goats. Llamas that halter, lead  and load easily and also permit handling of their body and legs will be  easier to manage.

Llamas that have bonded to humans due to bottle  feeding or excessive handling may not make good guards, especially in  the proximity of humans.  

Guard  llamas often drastically reduce, or in some cases, completely eliminate  predator losses. The value of livestock saved each year often exceeds  the initial cost of the llama and the small annual maintenance. Even for  the small producer, a llama is economical when cost is amortized over  the llama's effective guard life. Llamas live a long time, have low  maintenance, require no training, and protect the flock from other  environmental hazards. In addition to increasing profits, they also  decrease costs associated with traditional predator control methods used  by federal agencies. Guard llamas provide an acceptable environmental  method to prevent predation.