Student assignment. (requirement for course by Peter Kabai)

The use of Guard Llamas for protection of livestock against predators

By Aina Yndestad

Predation of livestock has been a problem ever since we started domestication of animals.

Limiting the population of predators ( like hunting) has been a widely used method to protect the livestock.

Some years ago in Norway it wasnt possible to let the sheep to graze on the mountains, because there were too many predators, especially wolfes. Then a massive hunt started, and when they were almost extinct, the sheep were let out, without any guarding. Now the population of predators is rising again, and there is a public discussion about methods to control the population. There is also a trend in the market that consumers rather want food that is prodused without too big ecological intervensions.

One method that has been studied in U.S is the use of llamas as guard animals for sheep livestock.

The llamas originate from South America, other members of the South American camel family are the guanacos, alpacas and vicunas. The guanacos and vicunas are wild, the llamas and alpacas are domesticated and used in the mountains as pack animals, and their wool is highly valuable.

Earlier the llamas were found all over North America, but they disappeared when the ice started to grow by the last ice age.

The llamas are very social animals, and have an instinctive aggression against all species in the canis family, like wolfes, foxes and dogs. Most probably they were predated by these species, and they developed instincts towards them.

Just like wolfes, the llamas defend their territory. When a lama is introdused into an area and a sheep flock, the pasture becomes the territory, and the sheep flock becomes the family group.

The guard trait may come from the guanaco, from where llamas were developed by selective breeding about 4500-6000 years ago. The guanaco male collects a harem and protects a territory.

The llama is an active leader of its flock, and moves around daily in their territory with the sheep following; the llama is always in a front-position.

It has complete control over the flock and prevent them from dispersing. It watches the flock with great attention, and often it can be observed on top of a hill, so it can have a better view over its family and potentially intruding predators.

If a predator is seen, the llama makes some noisy sounds as a threat. This will be repeated, and if it doesnt help, it goes or runs towards the intruder, who can be kicked and spitted on, before it runs away. Other methods is to place themselves between the sheep and the predators, or to head the sheep into a safe area.

In some farms it is the sheperd dog that shows aggressivity against the sheep during sheperding. Then the llama can consider the dog as an enemy, and it will threaten the dog. If there is dog present who doesnt hunt and disturb the sheep, the llama will be habituated to the dog and will not attack it. Sheperd dogs and guard llamas are sometimes used in the same flock to fullfill eachother in the defence against predators. This is under testing in some countries

The llama can also provide other benefits, like bringing the sheep to the shelter at night or when the weather is bad; it comes to the farm and vocalizes when something is wrong; it lies down by the newborn lamb to protect from the wind.

Some data from the U.S clearly tells us about the effiency of guard llamas:

In a survey of 114 farms (made by Iowa State University) the reports say that after introducing a llama, predation losses dropped from 11% of the flocks to 1% of the flocks; 62% of the 97 producers who were experiensing losses before acquiring a llama cut their losses to zero.

However, more studies are needed on using llamas as livestock guards. For example, the optimal or maximal number of sheep that can be guarded successfully in a flock is not known.

The best age for introdusing a llama into a flock also need more study.

Summarizing, the llamas is a very interresting og potent alternative for effective predator management:

-Economical protection

-Extremely effective

-Long lived; they have a working potential for 10-20 years.

-They do not require any training or previous association with sheep.When they are introdused to a flock, they attach easily to that flock.

Often it takes only 4-5 hours.

-No special food requirement, they eat the same as sheep.

-Environmentally acceptable

-Dont interfere with traditional control methods

-Low mortality rates

-Can be supported by animal rights & environmental groups.

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The use of Guard Llamas for protection of livestock against predators By Aina Yndestad Source: www.ulv.rovik.org Predation of livestock has been a problem ever since we started domestication of animals. Limiting the population of predators ( like hunting) has been a widely used method to protect the livestock. Some years ago in Norway it wasnt possible to let the sheep to graze on the mountains, because there were too many predators, especially wolfes. Then a massive hunt started, and when they were almost extinct, the sheep were let out, without any guarding. Now the population of predators is rising again, and there is a public discussion about methods to control the population. There is also a trend in the market that consumers rather want food that is prodused without too big ecological intervensions. One method that has been studied in U.S is the use of llamas as guard animals for sheep livestock. The llamas originate from South America, other members of the South American camel family are the guanacos, alpacas and vicunas. The guanacos and vicunas are wild, the llamas and alpacas are domesticated and used in the mountains as pack animals, and their wool is highly valuable. Earlier the llamas were found all over North America, but they disappeared when the ice started to grow by the last ice age. The llamas are very social animals, and have an instinctive aggression against all species in the canis family, like wolfes, foxes and dogs. Most probably they were predated by these species, and they developed instincts towards them. Just like wolfes, the llamas defend their territory. When a lama is introdused into an area and a sheep flock, the pasture becomes the territory, and the sheep flock becomes the family group. The guard trait may come from the guanaco, from where llamas were developed by selective breeding about 4500-6000 years ago. The guanaco male collects a harem and protects a territory. The llama is an active leader of its flock, and moves around daily in their territory with the sheep following; the llama is always in a front-position. It has complete control over the flock and prevent them from dispersing. It watches the flock with great attention, and often it can be observed on top of a hill, so it can have a better view over its family and potentially intruding predators. If a predator is seen, the llama makes some noisy sounds as a threat. This will be repeated, and if it doesnt help, it goes or runs towards the intruder, who can be kicked and spitted on, before it runs away. Other methods is to place themselves between the sheep and the predators, or to head the sheep into a safe area. In some farms it is the sheperd dog that shows aggressivity against the sheep during sheperding. Then the llama can consider the dog as an enemy, and it will threaten the dog. If there is dog present who doesnt hunt and disturb the sheep, the llama will be habituated to the dog and will not attack it. Sheperd dogs and guard llamas are sometimes used in the same flock to fullfill eachother in the defence against predators. This is under testing in some countries . The llama can also provide other benefits, like bringing the sheep to the shelter at night or when the weather is bad; it comes to the farm and vocalizes when something is wrong; it lies down by the newborn lamb to protect from the wind. Some data from the U.S clearly tells us about the effiency of guard llamas: In a survey of 114 farms (made by Iowa State University) the reports say that after introducing a llama, predation losses dropped from 11% of the flocks to 1% of the flocks; 62% of the 97 producers who were experiensing losses before acquiring a llama cut their losses to zero. However, more studies are needed on using llamas as livestock guards. For example, the optimal or maximal number of sheep that can be guarded successfully in a flock is not known. The best age for introdusing a llama into a flock also need more study. Summarizing, the llamas is a very interresting og potent alternative for effective predator management: -Economical protection -Extremely effective -Long lived; they have a working potential for 10-20 years. -They do not require any training or previous association with sheep.When they are introdused to a flock, they attach easily to that flock. Often it takes only 4-5 hours. -No special food requirement, they eat the same as sheep. -Environmentally acceptable -Dont interfere with traditional control methods -Low mortality rates -Can be supported by animal rights & environmental groups.

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