Did you hear about the llama I bought??

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>Fallen Oak Llamas</B></FONT><B>     |   </B><B>  </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Fallen Oak Llamas"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Did you hear about the llama I bought??</B>   |   <A HREF="id63.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="No Place For Old Llamas"><U>No Place For Old Llamas</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id65.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Abdominal Obstruction Scare"><U>Abdominal Obstruction Scare</U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=100 BGCOLOR="#003333" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#006633" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <I>Did you hear about the llama I bought??</I></div> <bR> <div> He is out of … She has her championship … He has the look of … Her sister went for big money at the last big sale… He stands over sixty inches at the withers … yes, he did cost a lot, but…</div> <bR> <div> Have you been to a llama show or futurity? Have you been to a llama clinic or membership meeting? Have you gone to a llama pack trial or a llama organization walk? Then you have heard all this before at the entry gate to the show ring or during a break You can probably give a few more examples. Congratulations if you are one of the people who can utter these statements. Please feel free to read on if you do fall into this category, but this article is intended for everyone else who has not been as fortunate as you.</div> <bR> <div> There are many wonderful llamas out there. Go on the internet and you will find out what type of llama you <B>MUST</B> have to be successful in breeding and the show ring. You will find what type of llama has the best personality, the softest fiber etc. Suris, Argentines, Full bloods, Imports & of course, anything sired out of <I>that well known</I> llama. Also remember, you must pay dearly if you want a quality llama.</div> <bR> <div> But what of the llama that was standing in a pasture or the one advertised for a few hundred dollars? These llamas are not to be dismissed from consideration. There are many quality llamas standing in a pasture just waiting to be given a chance & maybe become a Champion.</div> <bR> <div> In 2001, our foundation stock started with very humble beginnings. After a little online research, we decided on llamas to replace the three Brahma cattle we had on our five acre ranch. We jumped right in. We went to a local ranch to look at possibilities. The breeder was very friendly & helpful, but only had females that started at $2000 each. We then checked out a ranch 4 hours away from our place. We purchased 6 llamas at once. Two more followed a few weeks later. We were not the type that pick up a llama or two to see what they are like. We jumped in with both feet!  All were purchased from the same breeder & none cost more than a few hundred dollars each. One 2 year old male was not up to ranch standards. One was a 7 year old male that did not get along with humans or other male llamas. Three females were older by the ranch’s standards and were sold already pregnant. One was a problem breeder and one female was young & unproven. Not a single one of our llamas had ever seen a show ring or had produced a show llama. </div> <bR> <div> Like most people that buy their first llama, we were not interested in the well known pedigree. We did not even consider showing. We did look for basic confirmation. No sway backs. No legs crossing each other, up on there pasterns (though we did not know the terminology at the time). They were able to walk on all four feet and of course ...they were pretty. We were fortunate to deal with a ranch that was not trying to sell us physically defective llamas. Since that time, to our dismay, we have seen many people who have bought their first llama from someone that was trying to get rid of their defective llamas, i.e. down on the pasterns, genetic defects, severe structural weaknesses and females with defective reproductive systems.</div> <div>   </div> <div> Our whole foundation herd was purchased for under $2000. We traded the fancy pedigree and proven show records for an unproven animal with a solid confirmation. We knew that our decision meant that we had much work ahead of us. Most of the llamas only contact with people was when they were brought on from the field to be clipped, trimmed and injected. A few would have people ‘issues’ that would take years to overcome. This was all a challenge we were willing to take.</div> <bR> <div> Over the next year, the humans had to learn about llamas and the llamas had to learn from the humans. We had to overcome the fact that our older male would try to kill us when we entered his pasture (that took over two years to accomplish) We had a young male, in his terrible two’s, that had to learn manners. We had three crias born, all males, within a few months of our original purchase. We made many mistakes, like the cria whose knees were so bent inward that he could not  walk. Shortly after we corrected a dietary imbalance that problem went away. We read book after book. We surfed the web for as many llama related sites that we could find. When we finally did start to show, in late 2002, we listened to the parents giving advise to their kids.</div> <bR> <div> Our first show was at State Fair in 2002. We took our two boys that were born from our older females. For three days we were surrounded by the ‘big’ ranches that already knew it all. They had the manicured animals that came out of all of the great lineage. They had the sharp clip jobs, came in the fanciest trailers & were handled by the most impressive trainers. Our llamas had a full blanket or a scissor clip job and came in a late 70’s Dodge van. Our little boys, from a humble background, took a Grand & Reserve Grand. In years to come they would have more such placings.</div> <bR> <div> The male that was purchased as a two year old in 2001 would not be shown until late 2003, at the age of 4. When we first took Rebel to shows, we were criticized by many as to his height. Rebel only stands at 39 inches. This attitude has continued over the years but we never gave up on him. Rebel has consistently placed in the middle of the pack, including many 1st & 2nd place winnings and a Supreme Champion over all wool divisions at the 2004 Solano Fair. This ill mannered two year old boy has turned into the most wonderfully behaved, outstanding llama you have ever seen. Someone else's’ discard.</div> <bR> <div> The seven year old male we originally purchased could not be taken out in public for many years. He was too dangerous. He also was considered too small. When we thought he was ready we took him to his first show—at 13 years old! He placed 5th out of a class of seven. He was 2 to 3 times older than any other llama in his class. He placed over another llama that was MUCH younger, had the pedigree & that was valued at thousands of dollars more than our boy. Our boy has produced many crias for us and nearly all of them have placed 1st in the show ring.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Our first ranch bred cria</B> came out of parents that had a combined value of $500 at the time of purchased. Both parents were considered ‘older’. Neither parent had the ‘in’ lineage or came out of show lines—but after being shown at only three shows in 2007, he received a Grand Champion and was placed as Top 3 National Light Wool Male.<B> Never let anyone discourage you.</B> You do not have to have a top pedigree or specific type of llama to do well in the ring. It is necessary to start with a strong confirmation! An animal can not be rehabilitated when it is broken down structurally. If you think you are going to breed in the future, consider what defects can be passed on to future generations. Be responsible. Do not breed an animal who is showing structural weakness at an early age. Do not try to breed a defect out of a llamas. Chances are that an offspring of an animal with a severe defect will also have the defect or genetically carry it. If you are unsure what to look for when shopping for a llama, ask questions & do research.</div> <bR> <div> Thinking about getting a llama… looking at the llama advertised in the newspaper for $200… peering out the kitchen window at the matted llama that has been your weed eater for the last few years… despite what others say, that may be a Grand Champion in disguise...</div> <bR> <div> ... and there is nothing wrong if he is a Grand Champion in your eyes only.</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>