May, 2004
This document is availabe in PDF format.

Shelter

• Near water
• Electricity
• Faces out of wind (SE)
• Quarantine area
• At least one stall
• At least one catch pen
• Well ventilated
• Good drainage on floor (use gravel dust)
• Some area with concrete to naturally file down toenails
• Overhang-type area for feeding, particularly in times of hard downpours

Water Source

• Near barn, remember: hoses freeze in winter
• Electrolytes in summer

Fencing

• Type (board, wire)
  • Depends on what you're keeping out (local dogs, etc.), cost, and aesthetics
• Never use barbed wire
• Gates

Pasture

• Stocking density (5/acre)
• Grass types (Penn Late Orchard Grass)
• Parasite control - alternate pasture
• No access to ponds for show animals or they'll lie in the water in the summer, rot out their wool, and look awful
• Screened for poisonous plants
  • Fruit trees
  • Azaleas
  • Boxwood
  • Ornamentals
• Enough pasture to allow "like" animals (ages, sexes) to be housed together and to accomodate one or more breeding males

Food

• Grain (about a pound a day per animal)
• Salt
• Hay (2 flakes per day per animal)
• Storage facility (dry for hay, secured for grain)
• Suppliers (preferably those who deliver)

Supplies

• Feed bins, water bins, hay mangers, scoops, storage bins
• Pruners, brushes, blowers, clippers, chute
• Needles, syringes
• Muck out boots, shovels
• Livestock scale

Tractor

• Manure management
• Seed/Fertilizer spreading
• Mowing
• Plowing snow in the winter

Veterinarian

• Get someone you trust. Any large animal vet you trust can learn to treat llamas. Ask your vet to give you the basics on administering SQ and IM shots. Get experience with a local breeder.

Tack

• Halters, lead ropes, tassles, pack, event outfits

Transportation

• Trailer
• Truck

Show

• Clothes, farm display, storage

Companionship for your animal

• Llamas must have a camelid or other suitable companion (i.e., herding animal) when not used for guarding sheep or goats.

Fiber

• Some idea on where to get fiber processed if not discarding it
• Storage of fiber

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