Not every llama will meet you at the fence and give you nose-kisses, so as you visit llama farms, have in mind what you are looking for.  Find out what the people that own them do with them.  Some things for you to consider as you visit llama farms and research a potential purchase:

• What do you do with them?
• Do they cart?
• Do the pack?
• Does the seller harvest and work with the fiber?
• Are they (the seller) willing to help you learn to work with your llamas and will they let you experience "hands on" before you buy from them?
• Are the llamas healthy and well taken care of?
• What are you getting with your purchase? Guarantee of healthy animals? Support after the sale or will they take your money and run?

Before making that first purchase, do your homework. And determine if you are ready for the responsibility of caring for llamas. As with any other livestock, there is work to be done...feeding, scooping manure, vaccinating and deworming, foot care, grooming and shearing, fence maintenance, unexpected vet bills, and the list goes on and on.

Since the market for llamas is saturated, and llamas are being promoted more for breeding than for anything else, llamas are being literally given away by some breeders and can be purchased at exotic-type sales for next to nothing. This practice is only a "good deal" if:

• You have the means to care for the animals.
• The people you get the llamas from are willing and able to educate you on the care they require (i.e. vaccinations, toenail trimming, shearing, deworming, feeding).
• The animals are halter-trained and manageable.

There are many reputable breeders who will spend time with prospective buyers before the purchase and will follow-up and help with any questions after the purchase. These breeders will help you to choose llamas suitable for your purposes (pet, carting, fiber production) and will help you determine positive conformational traits.

Recommended reading:

Caring For Llamas: A Health and Management Guide
by Clare Hoffman, DVM & Ingrid Asmus.

A Guide To Raising Llamas
by Gale Birutta

LLAMAS: An Introduction to Care, Training, and Handling
by Sandi Burt