Question: How do you know what a llama is capable of packing and how do you decide for any given animal? Is it by age, size, both, neither?

In the last issue I went through generally how my own animals are made ready to be mature packers. Any llama less than four years should not carry a full load. Between ages 3-4 they certainly should be able to keep up with the string, but with a light load. For most llamas 25% of body weight would be considered top packing weight. You must know your animal since the above figure may be too much weight for some packers. You must have an accurate weight on your animal to know this figure. A weight tape is not good enough. Many feed stores have a scale that would work if you don't have one. I would like to emphasize that no matter how much your llama can carry always put less than a maximum load on him. This gives you and him added safety and assurance that you can make it to your destination for the day. This makes for a happy llama and therefore a happy camper. For instance if your packer is 400 lb. his largest load should be 100 lb. Using today's lightweight equipment there is no need to come close to a 100 lb. load. Unless the trek is a short distance such large loads will only result in problems. Only in emergencies should a maximum or greater load be used. I have never had to do this but have heard of individuals carrying way over 100 lbs. Only once for a rental have I ever approached maximum weight. It was taking in some Elk hunters who had used horses the prior year and brought all kinds of things. Even folding chairs were included in their equipment. The trip was only for three miles and with little elevation gain so my big stud had no problem. These hunters really liked the llamas compared with horses so they are going again this year. Most working llamas will not weigh 400 lb. so the great majority of loads will be in the 70-80 lb. range or lower with a smaller animal. The above animal is only an example and it is not to imply that you should go out and look for a 400 lb. llama. Many of the really superior packers will be much smaller many weighing only 275-300 lb.

To be sure of what you are putting on the llama, a scale to weigh the panniers is necessary. There are several types but by far the best is called the No Fail Scale. It stores easily and only weighs 8 oz. There are two sizes but for llamas the one with 60 lb. capacity is adequate. I have seen some of the llama vendors carry this scale or it can be purchased from Wyoming Outdoor Industries Inc. for $29.99 plus shipping. Their phone is 1-800-725-6853. The website is http://www.wyomingoutdoor.com/. This is a very elegant piece of equipment.

In summarizing this answer, know your animal and its weight, weigh the panniers, and always put less on your animal than his capacity.

Question: Is there a different set of criteria in llama choices between the casual day trekker and the serious packer?

The day hiker will be going very light and probably encountering less challenging terrain so his silent brother need not be highly conditioned nor structurally perfect. Any llama taken on the trail should have been trained beforehand for the task. For the serious hiker the llama should be well trained, conditioned, structurally correct and with trail experience. For longer trips the llama is your partner with each dependent on the other so you better have the best-prepared animal possible. The difference a trail-wise llama can make is always amazing to me. I have come to be very dependent on my leader and don't like to go on trips without him. A good packer will anticipate his handlers every move and be very predictable in his own actions. Many newcomers have not seen a truly superior packer and should visit local ranches to see, compare and maybe test drive several good packers. I would think that most ranches specializing in working animals would be accommodating and even welcome the attention. Below is a list of factors that I consider important for a superior packer to have. The list is not in order of importance. Some of the criteria are heritable therefore looking at parents and siblings can give you some insight into whether you would be dealing with a high-quality working llama. Acquiring such an animal is a subjective, time-consuming undertaking.

Working Llama Conformation

• Good height with long legs to step over obstacles rather than having to jump.
  
  Everyone will have his or her own definition of good height but mine is at least a 44" wither height. Long legs should produce a ground clearance greater than the depth of the girth (vertical chest height). This can be easily calculated by subtracting ground clearance from the wither height. The resulting number is the depth of girth.
  
  
• Relatively short back The back should not be concave but can be just a little convex. This allows for better weight carrying ability. If you have ever seen a large flatbed trailer they are designed so the trailer bed is slightly convex so they can carry heavier loads without the trailer sagging.
  
  
• Less than 6" between the upper portions of the front legs. Any more distance produces a waddling gait that puts inordinate stress on the shoulder.
  
  
• Straight legs with no sickle or cow hocks.
  
  
• Upright pasterns
  
  
• Body mass index of 6.5-7.7 for males and 7-8 for females. This is the weight-height ratio and is essentially a measure of leanness. Some of the great packers will have an even lower index than this, producing amazing athletic ability. The assumption here is good health with no malnourishment.
  
  
• Should have a high flank
  
  
• Relatively narrow-medium frame. Large chested males have a higher body mass, which may lead to endurance or temperature regulation problems. This does not exclude those individuals with a heavier build from being good packers but is just my preference. I do have one of these heftier boys and he has done fine so far.
  
  
• Plenty of guard hair
  
  
• Prominent Pectoral Muscles
  
  
• Wither height greater than hip height. With the animals we have to work with, this criteria is not often met but should be looked at. If there is a large difference between hip and wither heights more weight of the animals load will be placed on the front legs which normally carry 60% of their weight. Most of the llamas I have measured are higher at the hips.
  
  

Non-physical Factors In Superior Working Llamas

• Superior athletic ability. This goes along with perfect structure in allowing free and easy movement. My great athlete does not walk anywhere but runs because it's so easy for him.
  
  
• Should have a strong, confident personality-this does not necessarily mean friendly. My lead packer thinks he is better than humans but will deign to greet us if asked.
  
  
• A high level of trust in the human handler
  
  
• Very alert to the environment
  
  
• One or both parents are proven working llamas
  
  
• Heritage from a line known to consistently produce good working animals. The Poncho Via line seems to be the best of the North Americans. There are a number of North American outcross lines that also produce great packers.
  
  
• If the individual is a gelding his surgery should not have been before 18 months of age.

What to expect from a Superior Pack Llama

• Easily caught and haltered
  
  
• Loads, travels and unloads from a vehicle easily
  
  
• Stands still when getting pack put on
  
  
• Is desensitized so all body parts can be handled
  
  
• Is not disturbed by manipulation of the pack once it is on
  
  
• Very sensitive to signals from the handler It should seem like they are reading your mind.
  
  
• Should never sit down on the job unless there is a serious problem
  
  
• Able to easily carry 20-25% of body weight unless the load is unusual, trail is super steep or environmental temperature is unusually high.
  
  
• Will handle unpredictable situations with a logical safe response
  
  
• Must be a pleasant trail companion; this does not necessarily mean friendly
  
  
• Does not walk up on handler when going downhill
  
  
• Keeps the lead loose at all times
  
  
• Will meet other stock, humans, and wildlife without problems
  
  
• Crosses streams without jumping or otherwise endangering the handler or himself
  
  
• Will back up or sit down on command. This includes allowing the panniers to be loaded in a sitting position.
  
  
• Trained to understand picketing or being staked out while in camp
  
  
• Will tolerate close by gunfire without a problem.
  
  
• Does not take shortcuts on the switchbacks
  
  
• Is able to go through complex blow-downs with a pack. This includes understanding how to crawl on their knees under a blow-down.
  
  
• If possible will go off-trail to defecate.

These points represent ideal performance and your packer should not be expected to be perfect at all times. Many of the above traits are heritable so a prospective packer's family is important. Many individuals can be adequate packers without exhibiting some of these behaviors. However I would expect elite packers to perform almost all points most of the time.

Look for more questions and answers in the next issue of Llama Crossing.