Dip in Llamas back

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Hello, We have been looking at Llamas for a pet and to add to our goats as a guard. We found a gelding that is a proven guard for $350.00, which is a decent price. He is 7. Another breeder has a female that she says has a "dip" in her back, so she will sell her for pet quality at $300.00 and will breed her to any of her sires for that price so we can have a baby next year. My question is this...is the dip just a conformation thing that will keep it from being show quality, or is there something else I need to worry about? She showed the dip to us which is small and cannot be seen unless you run your fingers down it's back. We have no intention of becoming breeders, just want to add to our silly collection of animals that give us so much pleasure. Thanks for any info on this specific problem. (If indeed it IS a problem.) :)

-- Cindy (Ilovecajun@aol.com), April 09, 2002

Answers

The dip in the back can affect conformation and would most likley keep your out of some parts of a show. Llama's shows however have a number of classes, some that dont take the conformation of the animal into account. I would however be very leary of a breader that would breed a llama with a known conformation defect.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), April 09, 2002.

Too bad you didn't attend the exotic animal auction I went to last weekend. The bidding on papered female & male llamas stopped at around $125-$150. Some were no-sales because the owner wanted more, but he sold several in that price range.

-- bruce (niobrara55@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.

It may be that someone had used to much weight on it's back before it was old enough to carry it. Like a rider riding a horse at too young of age. When a horse gets a sway back you can resolve the problem with rubbing the horses belly it causes the muscles to contract and strengthens the back muscles causeing them to build up where they belong, Maybe it would work for Lhama's too.

-- Michelle (keweenawbaybum@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

Cindy, I was looking for chicken info. and ran across your question. I have 15+ Llamas that My mom and I raise. My suggestion to you is to spend the extra money on the proven gelded male. Most gelded males make good guards. We have a boy(Zack) that guards our females and does a fantastic job. Of course you never use an ungelded male as a guard because he'll try to romance the animals you want guarded. On a side note not all males make good guards, so a proven guard is a bonus. I know of a breeder who will refund your money if the gelding doesn't do his job. I have never heard of a female being used as a guard. They lack the guard instinct that the males have. In the wild that's a males job. The female would probably make a good pet though. As far as the dip in her back I wouldn't worry about it. If she's healthy and active it's probably nothing to worry about. I have a female with a small dip in her back and she just gave me a beautiful boy. It's been my experience that some people breed Llamas too young and/or too often, base on greed mostly, which can cause problems like that dip in the back. Overloading them with too much weight, like someone else suggested, could be another cause. Gelded males can make good pets. Educate yourself as much as you can about Llama behavior and you'll maximize your experience. I hope this helps and Good Lluck. :-) BKA

-- Brian K. A. (wastewater_wrenchrat@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

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