We live in the Sierra Foothills with mild winters but hotter summers. I shear most of my animals yearly. The Super Ccara Llamas I never shear. I generally do just the main body. I use the Lister Star with premier llama blades. I send the blades to be resharpened to Premier in Iowa. They are fast and do a great job. I can shear 3 to 10 llamas per set of blades. They do wear out and Premier will send them back to you when worn out. There are other systems that will work but llama wool is unique and some systems will not work at all. Do not blindly buy something out of a catalog or online. Make sure it is recommended by a llama owner.

The vaccination program you will need is entirely dependent on your environment. You will need to consult a local vet. I am fortunate to have a ranch with a lot of hard coarse ground. I never have to trim nails and there are no ground parasites. Yipee! But I have other challenges. My vaccination program is an annual 8 way shot, annual rabies shot, intermittent anti abscess shot and West Nile Virus for newborns and animals from areas not affected by West Nile. Ivomec is the common drug for internal parasites. How much and how often vary with your locale.

Llamas have two toe nails on each foot. Their nails constantly grow. If you live in a wet climate, or if your animals are on soft ground, their nails will need to be cut 3 or 4 times a year. This can be a chore but left unattended the nails will curl and cause serious injury. You will need a pair of straight garden clippers. Trim along the sides, and a little bit of the tip. If you trim too much you may draw blood. Ease back a little. The challenge to trimming toes is desensitizing your llama to having their foot picked up. This is where a chute comes in very handy. If you do not have access to a chute then you must put the time into desensitizing your llama. If not then every time it is trimming time you will have a wrestling match with your llama and that is not good for building trust with your llama or you just ignore trimming and eventually your llama can go lame.

Llamas are very hearty animals. They evolved in the high Andes of South America in rather sparse conditions. For most of the year, their food was short and brown so they needed to graze all day. They are browsers and will sample everything. They are also very efficient metabolizers of food. Consequently, when llamas were reintroduced to North America, one of their most common health challenges was obesity. Unrestricted high quality food may keep your llamas happy, but an overweight pack llama will not do well on the trail. The type and quantity of feed your llamas require can vary greatly depending on your llama’s body type, environment, age, and exercise program. My adult working animals receive 5 to 8 pounds of grass hay per day. They live in a mild climate with little snow. Llamas living in Montana and Wyoming probably need more. Consulting with your llama neighbors is a good guide.