Llamas are grazers and browsers. This means that they eat grass and leaves from bushes and trees. In a farm setting, you will want to supply clean, fresh water, a salt/mineral source, good quality grass hay in the winter, and a grassy pasture in spring, summer and fall. We also supplement our llamas with a specially formulated 'llama chow' that is available from various suppliers.

Llamas generally vary in size from about 36 to 48 inches at at the shoulder, but smaller or larger llamas can be found. Their adult weights range from about 200 to in excess of 500 pounds. See similar questions...

Llamas come in all color combinations. Paint (white with at least one other color), bay (dark brown with black face and lower legs), black, reddish brown and off-white are the most common colors. See similar questions...

A normal llama pregnancy can vary quite a bit and still result in a full-term cria (cria = baby llama). The average full-term pregnancy is 11.5 months, but can vary from 10.5 to 13 months. See similar questions...

If you live anywhere where the summer temperature reaches above 80 degrees, your llama will thank you for a summer haircut. Llama coats take 2 years to reach full growth, so it may be necessary to trim them only every other year. It is also not a good idea to take the wool off all the way down to the skin - they can sunburn! We usually trim the barrel (shoulders to haunches) and leave about 1 inch of wool to protect against UV rays. See similar questions...

Llamas have a soft foot, much like a dog's, and two toenails. Depending on the terrain that the llama lives in, these nails may have to be trimmed periodically. This can be accomplished with a pruning shear or hoof nipper, but some llamas don't like their feet handled, so it is a good idea to practice lifting their feet before you need to trim their nails. See similar questions...

According to the most recent reports that we have heard, one llama was suspected of having had West Nile Virus, but it was not confirmed. There has been a confirmed case in an alpaca. See similar questions...

Surprisingly, no. Anatolians tend to be "easy keepers", and an adult Anatolian will eat between 40 to 60 pounds of premium quality dog chow a month. As a puppy, an Anatolian should be fed a premium puppy food for the first year. Some breeders will use puppy food for the first 18 months, and then switch to a good adult food. See similar questions...

The type of shelter necessary depends, to some degree, on the type of climate you live in. In central Illinois where we live, the winters are long and cold and the summers are hot and humid. In our area, llamas require at least a 3 sided shed, with the open side facing away from prevailing wind and weather. In the summer, they require shade and moving air to keep them cool. See similar questions...

Minimum fencing requirement is 2-3 strands of hot wire, from 18" high at the bottom to about 4' high at the top, on T-posts. However, any llama that is new to an area will run through an electric fence if it is not introduced to its boundaries slowly. We recommend woven wire fencing or high tensile wire fencing, 4-4.5' high. Board fencing is also appropriate, but barbed wire is not a good idea because it is dangerous to the llama. See similar questions...

Like most livestock, llamas should be wormed regularly, per your veterinarian's recommended schedule. They should also have basic yearly shots. The shots that we give our llamas include tetanus, clostridium and leptospirosis. In some areas of the country rabies vaccination may be warranted as well. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian. See similar questions...

Generally speaking, llamas do fine with any cold weather. They do need to be able to get into shelter in severe cold wind conditions or the tips of their ears can become frost bitten. And of course, baby llamas are more susceptible to the cold than the adults - we put little coats and neck warmers on ours! Hot, humid weather is more dangerous for llamas than the cold. When the weather is hot and/or humid, llamas should have access to shade and preferrably a fan to keep them from overheating. See similar questions...

this time, there is no vaccine approved for llamas against West Nile Virus. We hope that by the spring, when the mosquitos are out in force again, a vaccine will have been developed. We will keep you posted as we learn more. See similar questions...

Owners have the right to buy their llama back if they so choose. There will be commission due of either $100 or 10% of the final bid amount, whichever is higher. See similar questions...

Only if you work really hard at trying to aggravate them! Llamas normally spit only at each other when they're fighting or in defense. We give a trip orientation over breakfast the first morning of the trip, during which we discuss llama handling. See similar questions...