Happy Llamas, Happy People: Improving Llama Health

These past couple of years have brought us great joy and motivation. Thanks to several partners and collaborators the Healthy Llama Breeding program has achieved new milestones attracting more community involvement. The Guild of Llama Breeders now has 85 members registered from 9 different high-Andean communities who benefit from several trainings to improve their llama’s health and promote the ancestral tradition of using llamas as pack animals to transport goods through the Andes. Read about some of our highlights:

First Andean Llama Contest:

What a success! The whole town of Quishuarani gathered around to watch this fun event, putting the spotlight on llama farmers for the first time in decades. Now all the neighbor towns want to host their own llama contest.

The first Community Llama Race and Contest was organized and implemented in the Quishuarani community in partnership with GALA Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association with great success.  An exchange session between 30 Guild Members and 20 llama farmers from USA was also carried out.

You may watch a review about the experience from Michael Sheridan, Chair of the Andean Committee here: Watch Video 

Llama Registry:

As part of the Healthy Llama Breeding program, a total of 151 llamas from 21 Guild members from 4 high-Andean communities were registered, revised and 88 of them were selected for the natural genetic improvement plan, with veterinarian partners, spotting the needs for improvement in the areas of pasture management and systemized breeding practices.

Placement of Improved Llamas:

A total of 9 improved llamas from the Llama Pack Project genetic bank have been placed in 5 different communities, 6 of them are male studs which mate with the best female llamas from the communities selected during llama registries to improve the size of the new crias (baby llamas) for packing services. These placements are organized in a merit-based rotation scheme which rewards the Guilds of Llama Breeders which prove to be more actively involved throughout the year. Llamas are placed within a certain family chosen by the Guild reinforcing bonds of trust and responsibility.

Visit from ‘Evan goes Wild’: 

Dr. Evan from Animal Planet’s ‘Evan Goes Wild’ tv program visited members of the Guild of Llama Breeders of Sutoc-Paccha community and provided scabies treatment for several affected llamas and a First Aid veterinary kit.

Building of Llama Corrals:

Thanks to the contribution of the Students Shoulder to Shoulder organization who actively participate of our different capacity-building programs we were able to build, hand by hand with members of the Guild of Llama Breeders, two corrals which help keep llamas warm and dry during frost and rain season. Benefited families are also chosen by the Guild in a merit-based rotation system.