The Menagerie Lurking in Rural America

She told me that she owns “hundreds” of animals on her property in rural Nebraska. “All kinds—rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, llamas.” She then clarified that she owns only one llama at a time.

My understanding is that this is a pretty common practice for people who own sheep. Sheep are scared of wolves and such, and don't do much to them. Llamas kind of "adopt" the sheep --- same species or no --- as their herd and don't run away, will fight wolves that are going after the herd.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_llama

A guard llama is a llama that is used in farming to protect sheep, goats, hens or other livestock from canids such as coyotes, dingos, dogs, foxes and other predators.[1][2] In the past, a single gelded (castrated) male was recommended. In more recent years, it has been discovered that single, unbred females make better and safer guardians.[3]

Most research on the effectiveness of guard llamas has been done with sheep. A 1990 study reported that 80% of sheep producers with guard llamas rated them as effective or very effective. The study found average rates of loss to predators fell from 21% to 7% after the introduction of a guard llama.[1] In other studies, over half of guard llamas completely eliminated losses due to predators. Coyotes have been injured and even killed by llamas.[2][4]

I think, from the phrasing of the article that OP submitted, that the author thinks that the llama here is some kind of exotic pet, whereas my guess is that it's most-likely a working animal, given the limited information in the article.

2 comments

Llama llama rural drama.
She told me that she owns “hundreds” of animals on her property in rural Nebraska. “All kinds—rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, llamas.” She then clarified that she owns only one llama at a time.
My understanding is that this is a pretty common practice for people who own sheep. Sheep are scared of wolves and such, and don't do much to them. Llamas kind of "adopt" the sheep --- same species or no --- as their herd and don't run away, will fight wolves that are going after the herd.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_llama
A guard llama is a llama that is used in farming to protect sheep, goats, hens or other livestock from canids such as coyotes, dingos, dogs, foxes and other predators.[1][2] In the past, a single gelded (castrated) male was recommended. In more recent years, it has been discovered that single, unbred females make better and safer guardians.[3]
Most research on the effectiveness of guard llamas has been done with sheep. A 1990 study reported that 80% of sheep producers with guard llamas rated them as effective or very effective. The study found average rates of loss to predators fell from 21% to 7% after the introduction of a guard llama.[1] In other studies, over half of guard llamas completely eliminated losses due to predators. Coyotes have been injured and even killed by llamas.[2][4]
I think, from the phrasing of the article that OP submitted, that the author thinks that the llama here is some kind of exotic pet, whereas my guess is that it's most-likely a working animal, given the limited information in the article.