Lambs and llamas

We have already had orders for our spring ewe Katahdin lambs for potential breeding stock, but we still have five yearling llamas for sale. We are busy training them to halter and lead. One way we do this is by staking them out on the lawn in front of the house, where we can keep and eye on them in case they get tangled up. When they are used to the short rope, we give them a longer one-about five meters long. This is tied to a sturdy fence post, but as low to the ground as possible. Most of the young llamas soon get used to it and learn how to step over the rope if it gets over their legs. It takes three or four sessions to train the llamas to lead quietly.
Loading them in a horse trailer and taking them to a llama show is another great way to make a llama easier to handle. This also involves washing and grooming which helps to desensitize the animal so that it doesn't object to being touched.
Our llamas are raised with the sheep right from birth, so are ideally suited to being sheep guardians. They keep coyotes away and reduce livestock losses from predators.