"To breed for the ideal we must select genetics. Genetics determine the ideal not the animal. When crossbreeding has occurred, as it has in the llama industry, there is no telling what the average offspring will be like unless you do your homework. A thoroughbred is a mirror of his/her parents and his/her offspring if bred to an animal of the same breed. A throw back or crossbreed does not breed true to its structure and appearance." (Wes Holmquist, Classic 2000 pg.36)
General Do's and Don'ts
*Don't just breed based on one animal's appearance.
*Don't get wrapped up in a name simply because it is advertised.
*Don't use show accomplishments as the only ruler for an animals worth.
*Don't let fashion trends dictate what a llama should look like.
*Do know a llama's structure and how it functions.
*Do look for consistency of form among siblings, cousins etc. This is called HOMEWORK. Homework is a good thing that is for your benefit. Know information about as many animals in a llama's pedigree as possible. What have they produced? As a result, this knowledge can help you tell if an animal can be defined as genetically stable -- able to breed true to the type represented. In the long run you'll be happier!
*Do remember not all lamas are llamas.
*ABOVE ALL DO breed the type of llama that makes you happy, while thinking about your animal's future too! Set your goals and keep them. Llamas are a phenomenal animal that provide us with wonderful companionship. We who breed, whether it is one pair or one hundred, need to be responsible and think about the future of llamas as a breed.
Using an adaptation of Dr. Seuss' story called Sneetches, I was inspired to create the following writing. In its creation I am not naming any person or trend in particular as bad or wrong, but am focused on the moral of the story. It is my hope that you can see how applicable Seuss' point is to the llama industry. Regardless of what the "in" trend happens to be, the moral of the story still rings true you must be careful to think through the cause and effect of breeding. If we breed trend upon trend into llamas we will end up in a muck, and it will be our precious companions who will pay the highest price. Use thought and careful selection in your llama breeding programs for our llamas sake!
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Important Llamas Now, the important llamas had pedigrees with stars |
| The North American bred llamas had no stars upon thars. |
| Those stars shouldn't matter as they were rather minute. |
| You wouldn't think such a thing would define who's cute. |
| But because they had stars, all the important starred llamas masters |
| would brag, "we've got the best kind of llamas in all the U.S. pastures. |
| With their noses in the air and their fine wool hanging low, |
| they'd quietly whisper those other llamas have got to go. |
| And whenever they met some, when they were at a show, |
| why they'd parade right on past them without even a yo! |
| When the important starred llama's cria went for Public Sale |
| Could a North American cria compete?? Not even with a wail. |
| Your llama got public attention only if it had stars. |
| And the North American llama had none upon thars. |
| When the important llama owners held a futurity boast, |
| sporting show winning starred llamas from coast to coast. |
| They'd never thought of the North American llama masters, |
| they left them out cold, in the dark of their own pastures. |
| They kept them at bay. It was really quite queer. |
| So that's how they showed them, year after year. |
| Then one day, it seems.....while the North American llama masters, |
| were pondering and wandering alone in their secluded pastures, |
| seeking to answer the important star question. |
| A capitalist expressed a "brilliant" suggestion. |
| "My Brothers", he said hiding his true zealous feign, |
| I'm here for you. My name is Mr. Doll-are Micro-glean. |
| I've known of your woes. Yes, I've heard of your fix. |
| But I'm here to tell you that you've got the wrong mix! |
| Just breed your dam to my important star stud, Oliver McFluff. |
| And wallah presto, all of your problems will be gone in a huff. |
| Then really quite quickly, Mr. Micro-glean, |
| why he laid out a money making scheme. |
| He said, so you want important llamas that are starred? |
| My brothers, see, you can have them, it isn't that hard. |
| For just "x" dollar breeding fees your llamas too can stars lord! |
| So they dished out the bucks and his stud's harem grew to a hoard. |
| They mated..... and waited....... Counted ......and calculated. |
| The time finally came about ........for their crias did pop out. |
| Then when the new important crias were born, |
| yes, their pedigree charts the stars did adorn! |
| They sneered at the ones who had stars to begin |
| we're exactly like you! See, we too can now win! |
| We have all got stars on the pedigree chart. |
| Our llamas are starred. You can't tell us apart! |
| Oh no, moaned the important ones who had stars to begin. |
| We still have the better llamas............. and they can't win. |
| But, how will we know without seeing the pedigree, |
| which kind of llama is now truly important, like me? |
| For now all llamas have silky fiber that is fine, |
| the important llama owners started to whine. |
| "So for now you can't look and know who's who at a glance", |
| Mr. Micro-glean said, "but, my brothers here's a new chance, |
| I'll make you again the best llamas in all the U.S. pastures, |
| for a few thousand dollars I'll make those stars of last years". |
| Single star llamas are no longer in style, said Mr. Micro-glean |
| Why, now crias of double star pedigree are really quite keen! |
| These wonderful, new imports from "Z" will take you far, |
| you'll produce wool color patterns way beyond bizarre. |
| And they began to breed imports exclusively in mass, |
| just trying to be the best kind of llama in all the atlas. |
| With photographed ads in every magazine about |
| the new double star type llamas started to shout: |
| "We know what llama is best and most expensive" |
| leaving those "old styled" llamas a bit apprehensive. |
| This sent our outdated owners looking for a solution |
| to fill their latest need for a llama of new constitution. |
| Mr. Micro-glean provided a llama who's appearance was quite unique, |
| A special "lama" with new and different type of fiber that all would seek. |
| His spiral tight wool hung like rope of twisting curls, |
| this guys fiber will make everyone bring all their girls. |
| From here on one might be quite befuddled, |
| as llama breeding turned all messy muddled. |
| As thoughtless llama masters for quite a few years |
| were breeding new llamas as if they were creating steers! |
| Chasing the latest and greatest llama trend. |
| Trying to create that "unique look" in the end. |
| So year after year, they kept paying the big money. |
| Creating some "llamas" that grew to look quite funny. |
| Always getting a brand new answer from Mr. Doll-are Micro-glean: |
| add this, or that, making an animal "look" that had never been seen. |
| Thin bone, stubby legs, sway back, |
| straight pointy ears they did not lack. |
| But always some new "look" covered with wool |
| Until.... the "unique" look market got quite full! |
| Then, when defining llamas as a breed became quite a mess |
| Mr. Doll-are Micro-glean said "I'll give llama breeding a rest" |
| Sensing he'd made all the money he could make |
| quietly packing his bags and profits he did take |
| He chuckled to himself as he left the odd looking lama pastures |
| "They never will learn. No you can't educate greedy llama masters." |
| But, Mr. Micro-glean was mistaken. I'm so happy to declare, |
| they decided the way they'd been breeding wasn't quite fair. |
| They resolved a true llama is the best for his master, |
| and that no kind of llama is the best in all the pastures. |
| That day all masters forgot about stars and trend |
| breeding what was best for their llamas in the end. |
| Breeding conformation that is suited for their chosen function. |
| Knowing that this kind of breeding is the best kind of junction. |
| Creating a wonderful llama companion that will breed true, |
| knowing that this will be a llama that is best suited for you! |
