Do Llamas Protect Horses – Excellent Protectors

Do Llamas Protect Horses

Do Llamas Protect Horses – Llamas are territorial by nature and are instinctively suspicious of canines. Their guanaco ancestors effectively defended their young from wolves, and a number of llamas retain those instincts to pursue and strike at small predators. These llamas can be used to guard sheep, goats, alpacas, mini-horses, and mini-donkeys, and occasionally horses or cattle and calves from coyotes and the occasional lone domestic dog.

Guard llamas may defend against predators in many ways. Llamas are instinctively alert and aware of their surroundings and may draw attention to an intruder by making a startling alarm call that sounds like a rusty hinge. They may walk or run toward an intruder, and chase or kick or spit at it. Others may stand apart from the group and watch the intruder.

Although llamas have been known to kill predators (such as coyotes), they should not be considered attack animals. They are generally effective against single intruders only, not packs.

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Not every llama will guard, however, and it should not be assumed that because it is a llama it will guard.

Research suggests the use of multiple guard llamas is not as effective as one. Multiple males tend to bond with one another, rather than with the livestock and may ignore the flock. A gelded male of two years of age instinctively bonds with its new charges and is very effective in preventing predation.

llamas make better companions for horses on pasture, mostly because of their larger size. In this case, however, you may only want to keep one of either animal either one alpaca or one llama. Two are fine but they may become exclusive and leave the horse alone.

Llamas and alpacas are known for spitting; however, a well-handled, properly socialized animal will not spit, in fact, they can even be halter trained. Llamas and Alpacas do like to have a spot to roll but do not require a lot of feed, most do well on pasture in the summer, and hay in the winter.

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Llamas as Companion Animals

Llamas make excellent companion animals.  They bond quickly to horses and have none of the herd hierarchy problems that you have with other horses, donkeys, or mules.
llamas as companions are that even though they bond with the horses, there are never any herd-bound issues when either is removed from the other.

Llamas as the True Easy Keepers

Most of us know what’s involved in horse care – even those of us with 24/7 turnout!  But there is no comparison with ease of llamas.  One acre can feed up to 5 llamas. There can be a little run-in area for them that allows them shelter and access to hay and minerals without having to compete with the horses (they always defer to horses in those cases so this is their own area that horses can’t access but they can duck under a fence board to get to).

They eat maybe a flake of hay over 2-3 days when the grass is available.  Each llama gets about ¼-1/3 lb. of llama feed a day.  They need their feet trimmed periodically and they need a worm shot about every 3 months.

Llamas for Protection / Predators

If you have other livestock such as sheep, goats, horses, or even cows, they can be very vulnerable to predators. Even small coyotes will be a big danger to small livestock, and a pack of coyotes can take down horses and cows.

Llamas are growing in popularity as guardian animals because they take less care and training than dogs and are less likely to jump a fence and roam. Best of all, a single llama can guard several hundred other animals but are equally at home with one or two charges to guard.

Integrating a llama with horses can be done easily and quickly with a little temporary fencing. Put the new llama in an adjacent pen where the animals can see, hear, and smell each other.

This adjustment period can take as little as a day to up to a week. Once both llama and its livestock charges are accustomed to each other, remove the separation fencing, and let them share pasture and shed areas. Before introducing new animals to each other, always make sure they have been isolated long enough to ensure they are healthy.

Llama Care

Feeding llamas is as easy as feeding other grazing animals, and they require less grain. If enough pasture is available, llamas will do fine grazing. In colder climates where pasture is unavailable in winter months, grass hay can be substituted. Llamas eat surprisingly little for their large size.

An adult llama can do well on one or two flakes of hay per day or a small pasture area. For the best results in grazing, section off several small areas of grass and rotate your grazing animals around them so each has time to recover and grow. The size of each grazing lot will depend on how many animals are grazing on them.

Like all livestock, llamas should always have access to fresh, clean water. In general, llamas are very hardy. They are less prone to illness than most livestock but will require routine care. Grooming will keep your llama looking good, and feet should be kept neat and trimmed to prevent lameness.

They should also receive vaccinations to guard against tetanus and also vitamin C &D to reduce the tendency toward enterotoxaemia. Depending on your location, there may be other vaccinations your veterinarian will recommend to keep your animals in good health.

Housing for Llamas

A barn or other formal building is not necessary to house llamas. Their dense wool keeps llamas very comfortable in all types of weather. They do well even in the coldest climate, and the thick wool provides insulation from heat and sun as well.

Drafts are more dangerous than temperature variations, so llamas should have the same type of shelter provided horses in the pasture. A wind block will do, and a run-in type of shed that lets them get out of heavy rain or blowing winds is even better.

Guarding Against Human Predators

We often think about the natural predators’ animals have and then protect against coyotes and other wildlife. However, a llama will provide ample protection from strangers as well.

They will get to know “their” people and present a formidable foe to anyone who doesn’t belong on the property. Make no mistake: a llama is an impressive discouragement. Dogs are popular guardians for the property, but they can present legal problems for their owners.

Whether it is right or not, you can be liable for the injuries your dog causes.

Llamas do their job, in most cases, without actually hurting the intruder. Their size and the tendency to spit at and chase strangers is a non-violent deterrent to any intruder.

Other Uses

To keep a llama in the best condition, their wool needs to be clipped at least once a year. The produce from the clipping has many excellent uses and can even be sold or bartered to other homesteaders for goods, services, or money. Keep in mind that if you do choose a llama to guard property or for other uses and do not have other livestock, they are herd animals and need the company of at least one other llama or another animal to be well adjusted.

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