Plain and simple – don’t become an animal farmer unless you are ready to face death.
This morning I went out to feed everyone and saw one of our guard llamas down. At first I didn’t pay attention – they like to lay in the sun sometimes and it’s normal. But when he didn’t get up when I put feed in for the ewes (female sheep) and rams, I knew something wasn’t quite right. I checked and he just wasn’t breathing well. I went back to the house, got a longer hose (thinking heat since it was already 90 degrees at 8am) and some gatorade in case I needed it. Cooling him off didn’t help, it turned out it was just his time. Joe and I stayed with him until it was over and honestly – I went back to the house and cried.
Camelot was born in 1989 so he wasn’t quite 20 years old – and llamas will usually live until 20-22. He was pretty easy to get along with – this past year he let me hang out beside him for awhile if I was checking on him. Very easy going – and for a llama that’s big. They aren’t the type of animals that you cuddle with. On our farm, we gave him a purpose besides being a lawn ornament. His job was to protect the sheep and new born lambs. Camelot did a wonderful job, I think he needed something to actually ‘do’ and a purpose. He was a natural and would check out the lambs once they started walking around to see who was new and supposed to be around.
The people who we bought this farm from ran a llama farm – with over 40 llamas. Camelot was their 1st and they were the first people I emailed this morning to let him know that he died. I enjoyed having him here for the past 2 years and I wish he would be around longer.
Yes, we raise animals for meat. I know where they go when we load them in the trailer. But some of our animals are different – they aren’t for meat and it just gets to me when they die. This past year we had more than enough deaths on this farm with all the ewes giving birth when it was -9 degrees outside (apparently going into the barn under the heat lamps was not an option in their opinion – but the open field was). It’s not fun when it happens and it’s heart breaking.
So farming is not just failed crops as most people see – it is the death of animals as well and it can be devastating if you aren’t prepared…. and even if you are.
natalie toran said
Is there a reason why your llamas seem to be all males? Are they “fixed”?
On the subject of LLama fertilizer, where do you get the analysis of the “poop” from? In other words, is there a reference for the benefits of llama fertilizer?
Please enlighten me,
Natalie
chicamarun said
Hi Natalie!
2 of my llamas are fixed – the other one is not. I don’t want to breed llamas which is why we only have boys. Females though are usually just as good at guarding as males. I did research when we first moved here to learn about llama “beans” and that’s where I found out the information about the benefits of it. Funny thing is – it was actually mentioned in Southern Living magazine last year to “make friends with a llama” because of the benefits!!