Llamas and Alpacas Project

What is it All About?

Llamas and alpacas can be a wonderful addition to a family farm and make great pets. The 4-H llama and alpaca project helps you find the kind of llama or alpaca that fits into your family’s lifestyle. It will enable you to be an excellent trainer and caretaker of your animal.

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Grow in Your Project

Beginner

Learn llama history
Learn the importance of keeping health records
Identify breed characteristics and external and internal parts
Learn how to care for a cria
Identify different types of fibers

Intermediate

Understand registration papers
Recognize llama and alpaca behavior and body language
Recognize the differences between llamas and alpacas
Evaluate llama fibers
Learn about llama nutrition
Learn basic llama safety and health

Advanced

Learn about llama hierarchy
Learn about llama social behavior and temperament
Identify llama structure and evaluate performance
Identify different types of llama teeth and their uses
Learn how to body condition score a llama

Click Here for Llamas and Alpacas Project Member Resources

Click Here for Llamas and Alpacas Project Leader Resources

Project Leader Resources

Llama & Alpacas, Helper’s Guide

Take Your Project Further!

Discuss the necessity and practice of washing your hands before and after handling your alpaca/llama
Explore the need for bio-security measures when handling animals
Create a list of recommendations for competitive shows for alpacas/llamas
Create a list of differences between the different breeds of alpacas
Job shadow at a local business (veterinary clinic, breeder, or groomer) in a llama-related career that interests you
Go to llama shows and explore the differences in llama breeds and the different ways they are shown. Explore health safety issues with llamas and the diseases llamas have that might make humans ill
Explore what kinds of llamas make the best pets and which are used for production
Do some comparison shopping for llama supplies
Explore what kind of restrictions and laws your community might have on llamas
Explore the uses and benefits of animal-assisted therapy
Investigate llama by-products
Contact a guardian llama placement program and find out more about the program

Applying Project Skills to Life

Enhance Your Communication Skills

Write a letter to your local paper about the importance of raising llamas
Make a poster or do a demonstration about how to safely approach a llama or alpaca

Get Involved in Citizenship and Service

Volunteer at a local llama or alpaca farm
Bring your alpacas/llamas to the fair or a community event to teach others about this wonderful and unique breed of animals

Learn about Leadership

Hold a training session for your community members to teach them about showing llama
Mentor younger members to learn how to show their animal

Showing What You’ve Learned

Show your llama or alpaca at your county fair or the Wisconsin State Fair
Make a poster of llama external or internal parts
Make a timeline of the history of llamas or alpacas
Make a craft using fibers from llamas or alpacas
Create a display showing the different types of llama or alpaca fibers
Make a model of a llama ear or eye
Make a poster show the before and after of grooming a llama
Create a scrapbook of a llama pack trip you took
Create a display showing how to pack a llama for a trip
Create a glossary of commonly used llama terms
Create a poster showing you or an adult trimming your llamas feet
Design an obstacle, pack, or public relations course that could be used in a show
Show how plants grow differently if they are fertilized by llama manure vs. no fertilizer
Create a poster comparing a llama harness to a horse harness

Adapted with permission from Wyoming State 4-H, Project Information Sheet, Llamas and Alpacas. Retrieved from: https://www.uwyo.edu/4-h/projects/animal-science/llamas-alpacas.html.

*Resources available at your local Extension office or shop4-H.org.

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