Dr. Doyle Markham

Because of the consistent loss, Irv had talked to his wife, Ora, about getting out of the sheep business. He really needed to expand his flock to make the sheep a little more profitable. Although the sheep provided a welcome supplement to his income, what he enjoyed most was lambing time and watching the lambs play. He also enjoyed furnishing top-quality lambs for his neighbors' freezers. However, he certainly didn't want to raise more sheep for the dogs.

Irv was fascinated with llamas so one day he visited with a llama and polypay sheep producer, Snake River Llamas, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. To his surprise, he learned that llamas might be the answer to his dog problems. A two-year old white gelding named Jasper with a brown saddle and head and beautiful black eyes with the longest eye laches Irv had ever seen was purchased.

Irv's lambs were born. Although the llama was constantly around the sheep, Irv wasn't sure that the llama had anything to do with him not loosing any more lambs. But a situation developed not long after the lambs were born. One night, Irv had his sheep in the pastures near his home. Next morning, it was obvious that a sheep had been killed by dogs, across the fence from where the llama and some other sheep were grazing. Disappointedly, he examined the dog-torn carcass. As he knelt beside the lamb, he happened to glance toward the llama across the fence. However, a post interfered with his view. "Gee, that post has nearly fallen over." Quickly, he looked down the fence and a five-inch cedar post on each side of the leaning post was broken off at the ground. What powerful force could have almost toppled over such a strongly built fence? Then he noticed the large round hole through the woven wire fence with llama wool laying all over the ground beneath the now slanting fence. Then he knew, Jasper had nearly paid the full price; risking his life as he had hit the fence, head down, at full speed trying to get to the lamb to save it from the ravages of the dogs. Indeed, Jasper was a first-class sheep guard!

A few weeks later, Jasper and the ewes and lambs were taken to another pasture which he had never seen. A common observation among sheep producers who use llamas is that they are always very alert and observe everything that happens on a ranch. Jasper's keen observational powers proved his immaturity at identifying predators. A family of marmots were busy eating grass around their den in the lower part of the pasture. Immediately, Jasper spotted the marmots; he quickly rounded up all the lambs and chased them to the top of the hill. Once on top, he paced back and forth, keeping the lambs in place in a tight group. All the time he kept a eye pealed toward the marmots. Although he had never seen a marmot, he was taking no chances with his precious lambs. Through out the day, Jasper keep the lambs on the hill. Finally, Irv thought he needed to go rescue the lambs so that they could go to the creek and drink. However, before Irv could climb the hill, the llama left the lambs and investigated the marmots more closely. Apparently deciding that the marmots weren't a threat to the sheep, he let the lambs once again scatter out to feed.

After a year and a half, with no predation, Irv knew he didn't need to worry about dogs again. That next year, Jasper again amazed the Sprakers. He had the sheep at another pasture where a tenant lived. One day, Spraker went over to check things. The tenant had left the gate open to the pasture. However, right in the middle of the opening for the gate lay Jasper. No sheep would escape that day as Jasper was in control of his territory.

That fall Irv and Ora began to catch their lambs and take them to be butchered for their clients. One ewe lamb just couldn't be captured. In frustration, Irv decided that since he couldn't catch the young ewe, he would just keep her and add her to his breeding flock. All the adult ewes were in another pasture so he left her in the care of Jasper. A month later, he decided that it was time to move Jasper and the young ewe to another location with the adult ewes. A creek, some 10 feet across, runs at the end of the Sprakers land. Since most sheep hate water, the creek serves as an effective barrier so a fence isn't necessary.

As he approached the pasture, Irv thought it was strange that the llama and sheep were now on the other side of the creek. He wondered how the llama had ever convinced the sheep to cross the creek and what would cause him to do it. Perhaps a dog pack had forced him to take her across the creek. He put some grain in a pan, waded the creek and enticed the sheep to him. He quickly caught the sheep by the head and tail and started to cross the creek. Jasper immediately ran to Irv and the sheep. He laid his neck across Irv's back as Irv bent to guide the sheep across the creek. At times the pressure of Jasper's neck and head forced Irv to his knees. Once in the water, Jasper began to be vocal about the handling of the sheep. Apparently to Jasper, the sheep was in his control, and he wasn't ready to transfer the responsibility.

To date, the Sprakers have enjoyed four years without a single loss of lambs. Now Irv sleeps solidly for he no longer has to worry that dogs will sneak into his sheep. Like all llamas, Jasper observes everything that happens around him, thus Irv knows that Jasper's keen sight and hearing will ensure that predators are unable to penetrate his diligent watching and protection.

LLAMA SHEEP & GOAT GUARD USE IS BECOMING WIDE-SPREAD Llamas enjoy a great reputation among packers, hunters and fishermen for their ease of training, their tranquil nature and for their cheap upkeep. Their packing reputation is well deserved as mature males can pack a third of their body weight, up to 140 pounds for a 420 pounder. However, it is only recently that llamas are receiving wide spread use by sheep producers as sheep guards. Using llamas as sheep guards began in the intermountain area at least 12 to 15 years ago. During the past few years, use of llamas has grown exponentially. Now an estimated 400 to 500 sheep producers in Montana, Idaho and portions of the adjacent states are experiencing the joys of owning a llama sheep guard. The intermountain region, especially Montana, appears to be the hot bed for using llamas as sheep guards. However, due to recent publicity, just about every state now has llamas guarding sheep. Llamas, wool-producing goats, such as cashmere and angora, and milking goats have all been successfully guarded by llamas. Llamas are extremely effective guards for Ann Dooling of Dillon, Montana who has one of the largest cashmere goat herds in the United States. She has seen one of her guard llamas attack a large dog.

Even emu and ostrich producers are experimenting with llamas as guards. These producers have constructed runways around their bird pens so the llama can run around the pens to chase away predators. Although the llamas do not bond to the birds as they do to sheep and goats, to date they appear to be doing the job for the bird producers.

Is Irv Spraker's experiences with Jasper unique? Not at all. I have interviewed many sheep producers and everyone has at least one similar remarkable event to tell. From bringing the sheep out of a 2,000-acre pasture to corrals every time in snows, to letting the owner know that sheep are stuck in the reservoir, to alerting the owner that the sheep were without water, to rounding up the sheep and bringing them in every night, to guarding a sick lamb, to laying down on the wind side of newly born lambs to protect them, to nosing a newly-born lamb 100 feet over to where the ewe had another lamb, to not letting the sheep enter a pasture where a coyote was in a trap, to running to a sheep camp to warn the herder about three mountain lions near the sheep, to jumping a corral fence to chase two coyotes 100 yards away, etc. etc. The sheep producers interviewed have two common themes that predominate: the llamas really watch over or love the lambs and the llamas have effectively eliminated losses from predators. WHY ARE LLAMAS EFFECTIVE SHEEP GUARDS Sheep and goat guarding comes natural for llamas; it isn't something that they are trained to do, nor do they need to be raised with sheep or goats. First, llamas have an innate dislike for canines. In addition, they usually bond to and take charge of a flock of sheep or goats, keeping them, especially at night, in a relatively small area so they can keep watch over them. Llamas are very alert and notice everything that happens around them. When a coyote or dog is spotted near the sheep or goats, the llama charges after him. The much smaller coyotes are easily intimated and run for their lives. However, it might be necessary for the llama to attack dogs and hit them with their front legs and feet.

Llamas were developed by South Americans by selective breeding of the guanaco. Guanaco studs often collect a harem and guard a territory. Llamas likely acquired a similar territorial and protective behavior from this ancestor which easily adapts to guarding sheep and goats.

HOW AND WHEN TO PLACE A LLAMA WITH SHEEP & GOATS A llama should be initially introduced to the sheep or goats while they are in a corral or small pasture. The llama should remain with the flock in a small area for several weeks to allow bonding between the sheep or goats and the llama. Many believe that for best results the inexperienced llama needs to be present prior to the birth of the lambs as they help turn a newly introduced llama into a guard. The llamas have an affinity for lambs and kids that borders on love. After the birth of the lambs or kids, the new introduced llama and the flock should remain in a small pasture or a large corral for several weeks to complete the bonding between the sheep and the new llama. In a short time, the llama will literally take complete control of the flock.

If a newly purchased llama comes from a llama producer who does not own sheep or goats, the newly introduced llama and the sheep or goats may actually be cautious of each other for a day or two. However, most llamas quickly adapt to the new situation and begin to slowly and continually approach the flock.

It doesn't take too long for the sheep to depend upon the llama, especially for predator protection. One of the sheep producers told me about seeing his sheep migrate toward the llama when they saw a coyote with some of the sheep actually getting under the llama. Another producer indicated that he was taking his large flock through a series of gates and the llama was in the lead. The sheep easily went through each gate, but when the llama dropped back into the herd, they couldn't get any of the sheep through the next gate even with the use of two dogs. When the llama was pushed to the front, progress continued.

The sheep-guarding llama should be a gelding. Stud llamas try to breed the sheep or goats when they are in season and because of their larger size could harm or even kill the much smaller sheep and goats. When mature males are gelded for guarding, it sometimes takes several months for the hormone levels to drop sufficiently so that the llama is not interested in the ewes or does when they are in season. Usually one llama per flock is recommended. If more than one llama is involved, they bond to each other rather than to the sheep.

Age of the llama doesn't appear to be an important factor. Many one- year old llamas have been extremely effective. However, some one- year olds were not very effective until their second year. Other successful sheep guards were up to eight-years old when they were initially placed in a sheep flock, and llamas in their late teens are still guarding effectively. Placing a llama considerable younger than one year with a flock is not likely to provide much protection.

You should expect to be able to purchase a llama that is halter broke and that will go into your trailer or truck. I recommend that you not purchase a llama that is overly fond of people and continually seeks attention from people. When you take the llama away from his llama buddies, you want him to concentrate on and bond to the sheep, not to you. Although llamas are pretty and neat, you do not want to concentrate on making the sheep guarding llama a special friend. Similarly, a llama that is overly familiar with dogs may not always work as a sheep guard. Don't be too concerned if the llama farm where you purchase a llama owns a dog. Usually, people raising llamas have a dog which the llamas will ignore, but any new dog on their place immediately gets aggressive attention.

EFFECTIVE WITH LARGE OR SMALL FLOCKS The effectiveness of llamas for coyote or dog predation isn't limited to the small farm flock like Irv Spraker owns. Individual llamas have effectively guarded over 1000 sheep in one flock. I've interviewed several sheep producers who previously lost 100 lambs a year to coyotes. These same producers have cut their losses to virtually nothing after purchasing a llama; the majority had gone from five years to twelve years without losing a lamb to predators. Research by Kelly Powell, who interviewed 145 sheep producers who used llamas as sheep guards, has shown that over 50% of the guard llamas completely eliminated predator losses. Another 40 to 45% were very effective. Data gathered in my study suggests that the failure rate for llamas guarding sheep might be between 5 and 10%. Llamas appear equally effective in a small pastures or 2,000 acre pastures or even on the open Bureau of Land Management lands in the west. I think llamas would also be effective in guarding sheep in unfenced, forested areas of the national forest, especially when the large 1-2,000 ewe flocks are accompanied by a herder. Generally a herder on national forest lands is necessary to make sure the flock grazes in the right area for the proper length of time. However, data on sheep guarding in forest areas and in open range are limited. Comments from some Montana and Idaho sheep producers about their respective llamas best summarize the ability of the llama to guard sheep. Eldora Porch: "He is irreplaceable. He is the only animal on the place that is insured. Why, we would lose a lot of money if something happen to him." Ross Middlemist: "As he has gotten older, he has gotten better. We paid a thousand for him, I sure wouldn't take that for him now." George Richardson: "It was a good investment. I'm darn proud of that old boy; he's a smart critter. I don't think he would back off for anything." Skip Hurt: "He won't tolerate a dog on the place. I feel a whole hell of a lot better when Clyde is down here with the sheep." Curt Reisland: "He has done wonders. He did a good job even when he was a yearling. We are just as pleased with him as we can be. I wouldn't part with him." Ralph & Charlette Cariat: "He was effective his first year. He is worth his weight in gold." Sam Jackson: "I wouldn't take $4000 for him. I don't tell many people all the things Shadow has done as I'm afraid they would think I was lying."

Guard dogs are also effective in guarding sheep. However, a recent study has shown that 50% of the guard dogs on ranches were dead in 18 months, and 50% of the guard dogs on farms were dead in 38 months. The same study indicated 14% of dogs caused "major problems." Most llamas live over 20 years and should be effective as sheep guards for nearly all of their lives. Another advantage of llamas is that they eat the same foods as the sheep so the sheep producer doesn't have to feed them daily as they do dogs. Unlike dogs, llamas don't have to be raised with sheep to be effective guards. Llamas require no special care. When a producer worms, vaccinates or trims the hoofs of sheep and goats, he can do the same things to his llama.

Many people find fiber harvested from the llama an added bonus of having guard llamas. The fiber is much smaller diameter than sheep wool and makes beautiful sweaters. The llama fiber can be used alone or mixed with sheep wool.

Llamas for sheep and goat guards are relative inexpensive usually varying from $600 to $1000. The larger sheep and goat producers happily discovered that each year a llama saves them considerable more that this cost. Even for the small flock owner, the cost when amortized over the expected 15-20+ years of the llama is minimal.

DEBATE OVER PREDATOR CONTROL Currently a debate about predator control exists among various segments of our society. Eighty percent of the sheep in the United States are produced in 17 western states. Studies confirm in these western states 4 to 8% of the lambs and 1 to 2.5% of the ewes are killed each year by predators. These same studies estimate that 76 to 100% of the kills are due to coyotes; however, often in small flocks, losses are primarily due to dogs. These losses to predators cost the U.S. sheep industry over 20-million dollars each year. These losses don't include loss of weight, abortions, etc. that the coyotes and dogs cause to surviving ewes. For the individual producer, predator loss can mean the difference between profit and loss and, thus, survival in the sheep industry. Therefore, agricultural organizations, ranchers and western congressmen believe the over 30-million dollars spent on predator control each year, primarily to control coyotes, by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Damage Control section of the US Department of Agriculture is necessary and justified.

Certainly, these are strong arguments for some type of predator control. If you haven't owned livestock, you can't imagine the strong feelings that dead and mutilated carcasses and injured animals caused by dogs or coyotes can produce, whether you own a small farm flock or a commercial herd where your livelihood depends upon their survival.

Other people and organizations are opposed to the government sponsoring and paying for the protection of private flocks of sheep and goats, whether or not they graze on public or private lands. Some are critical of the most common and effective control methods because they are not targeted to the specific offending coyotes. For example, gunning from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft kills both offending and innocent coyotes. Some believe that coyote control of all types is not justified while others think coyote control may be necessary but the federal government shouldn't be involved in this effort.

Many sheep and goat producers who must have predator control in order to survive in the industry dislike the idea of having to kill predators. Often the producer realizes that predators are important components of natural ecosystems. Also some farm flock owners detest the thought of having to kill neighborhood dogs in order to protect their flock. Recently, the Bureau of Land Management temporarily closed predator control by the ADC on BLM lands in 16 western states in response to a suit by an environmental group. Subsequently, the American Sheep Industry Association filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Wyoming opposing the BLM's action. The BLM has subsequently began to instigate emergency predator control programs and to write Environmental Policy Act documentation for their predator control programs. These actions are indicative of the turmoil and changes being sought in predator control activities associated with sheep and goat grazing on public lands of the west.

In addition, wide-spread changes in the personnel make up of congress has or will occur in the next few years. This may result in changes in agricultural and natural resource related committees. Additionally, population shifts to more urban areas suggest that western representatives from traditional sheep producing states are more in the minority. Much emphasis is also being placed on cutting federal budgets. Loss of wool incentive payments to wool producers will make it even more important to avoid predator losses in order to make a profit. Because of these changes and because of public debate over predator control, it seems likely that individual sheep producers may be required in the future to contribute more to the effort and cost of protecting sheep from coyotes.

Many additional farming operations would be interesting in investing in sheep to provide supplemental income, if they could avoid losses to predators. Interest in fiber producing goats is also increasing. In order to be successful over the long-term, loss of sheep or goats to predators must be controlled. Scentific studies and surveys are needed to further define effectiveness of llamas and in what situations they are the most effective. More data are particularly needed in open range and forest situations. However, it is clear from these initial surveys that llamas can provide an interesting, effective, long-term and economical alternative in many situations to historical predator control methods.

Dr. Markham is a research facility member in the Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University and Executive Director of the Environmental Sciences and Research Foundation in Idaho Falls, Idaho. His organization has published many technical journal articles on predators. More information about llamas and sheep guarding can be found in his 286-page book, "LLAMAS ARE THE ULTIMATE." Available from the author for $16.95 postage paid at 7626 N 5th W, Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401.