llamas!!
I totally just finished my arugmentative essay!
Guess what it was about? That's right: three pages on why llamas are the greatest animal ever!
I shall put it under a cut:
Llamas
A common question asked of people is “Are you a cat person or a dog person?”. I see this as unfair. There are so many other animals out there not even given the option of being a choice. One of the overlooked animals is the llama (this includes alpacas as well). If a person owns an acre or two of field property, they should really consider purchasing a llama. Llamas are the best larger-size pets, as opposed to horses, sheep, cows, or goats. They can be used for several different purposes: pack, trail, show, companion, or domesticated animals.
If you own farm property, you need good, practical animals around. To be a good farm animal, it must be a useful one. A llama definitely falls under the category of useful. Llamas can pull and carry almost as much as horses. They can pull carts full of people or supplies, and they can carry about a third of their weight on their backs. That’s about 60 pounds. They don’t tire very easily, and they’re hard workers. Llamas are grazers, so they’re handy to keep in an overgrown pasture.
Llamas are most frequently used as pack animals. They can carry quite a load. They are well-behaved on the trail, and quiet. When used as pack animals, they have less of an impact on the environment than mules or ponies because of their padded feet.
Llamas don’t have to be laborers though. They can be domesticated as pets. This is a great option because of several reasons. They are extremely quick learners. The animals themselves don’t carry any odor. Most simply, llamas are extremely personable. They are warm. Each one has its own personality, which adds to their allure. Llamas are amazing with children, as well. They can get up close to the llama and touch it, hug it, and even ride it without the llama getting agitated. Llamas are known for their curiosity as well. They are easy to engage and interact with. Other animals this size, like horses and goats, require a lot of work before they can be used in any way, whether as laborers or recreational. Things like shoeing and inoculations must be done, large amounts of grain or other food are required, they need a bigger living area, and a lot more training.
Llamas are also used in therapy. They are especially beneficial to the elderly, the handicapped (both mentally and physically) and young children, as mentioned before. Llamas are good therapy animals because they aren’t spooked easily. They’re gentle. They’re calm, even around a lot of noise. They are instinctive and perceptive, and people like the loving attention llamas give out.
And believe it or not, llamas can be used as guard animals. They’re frequently used to watch small livestock, like goats, ponies, or sheep. If trained at a young age, they’ll stay in the field with the other animals and protect them. Goats can’t be trained to do that. Also, unlike a herd dog, you don’t have to pay for the llamas’ food. They eat the grass as they watch the other animals.
There is always the chance that llamas may spit. They’re in the camelid family (which means they’re related to camels). Mostly the llamas spit at each other. But this only happens when the llama gets extremely agitated. So if you get spit on, chances are, you deserve it. Llamas also kick each other, but they very rarely kick a human. You are in more danger of injury around all the other farm animals combined than around llamas. They are so laid back that many never get restless.
Many people prefer horses to llamas. Granted, horses can be ridden by adults, and for long distances, where llamas can’t be ridden by adults. But llamas aren’t as likely to have an attitude like horses sometimes do. Llamas don’t need as much space as horses or sheep. Also, it is easier and cheaper to maintain llamas’ health.
Money is always an issue. Lucky for us, llamas are very relatively inexpensive to keep. They are very easy to care for. All they need is a pasture, yard or enclosure, and water. They should be sheared for the summer months so they don’t develop heat stress. Their nails need to be clipped every month or so. They need monthly or bi-monthly de-worming treatments. Also, llamas are herd animals, so you should really purchase two or more llamas if you are just starting out.
This maintenance and cost is outweighed by the profit you could potentially make off your llamas. Alpaca wool is much desired to make clothes and blankets with. Their wool does not contain lanolin, which means it can go straight to the loom off the animal. (Lanolin is an organic waxy substance usually found in wool.) Many llama owners also sell “llama beans” which are the llama’s feces. The pellets are small and odorless and are one of the organic best fertilizers around. Many people also make llama profits by showing and breeding their animals. Pedigree, pure-blood llamas can sell for as much as $2000 in the United States.
Another nice thing about llamas is they are highly resistant to the major livestock diseases. They almost never catch whatever is going around. They live very long lives, which average at about 20 years.
If you’re going to make an investment as large as farm animals, the decision should be thought over. Obviously llamas should be included in anyone’s barnyard. They are so versatile, so affable, and extremely profitable. They are the best farm animal.
Anywho, I have renewed my love for the sexyness of David Duchovny. He should marry me. We'd have great sex. :)
Also, I am in a good mood today. This is rare. I am basking in it! It's warm, it smells like fall, Law and Order is on, I'm crushing on DD, I finished my essay on time, and I'm pretty much done with classes for the day.
Yay!
Guess what it was about? That's right: three pages on why llamas are the greatest animal ever!
I shall put it under a cut:
Llamas
A common question asked of people is “Are you a cat person or a dog person?”. I see this as unfair. There are so many other animals out there not even given the option of being a choice. One of the overlooked animals is the llama (this includes alpacas as well). If a person owns an acre or two of field property, they should really consider purchasing a llama. Llamas are the best larger-size pets, as opposed to horses, sheep, cows, or goats. They can be used for several different purposes: pack, trail, show, companion, or domesticated animals.
If you own farm property, you need good, practical animals around. To be a good farm animal, it must be a useful one. A llama definitely falls under the category of useful. Llamas can pull and carry almost as much as horses. They can pull carts full of people or supplies, and they can carry about a third of their weight on their backs. That’s about 60 pounds. They don’t tire very easily, and they’re hard workers. Llamas are grazers, so they’re handy to keep in an overgrown pasture.
Llamas are most frequently used as pack animals. They can carry quite a load. They are well-behaved on the trail, and quiet. When used as pack animals, they have less of an impact on the environment than mules or ponies because of their padded feet.
Llamas don’t have to be laborers though. They can be domesticated as pets. This is a great option because of several reasons. They are extremely quick learners. The animals themselves don’t carry any odor. Most simply, llamas are extremely personable. They are warm. Each one has its own personality, which adds to their allure. Llamas are amazing with children, as well. They can get up close to the llama and touch it, hug it, and even ride it without the llama getting agitated. Llamas are known for their curiosity as well. They are easy to engage and interact with. Other animals this size, like horses and goats, require a lot of work before they can be used in any way, whether as laborers or recreational. Things like shoeing and inoculations must be done, large amounts of grain or other food are required, they need a bigger living area, and a lot more training.
Llamas are also used in therapy. They are especially beneficial to the elderly, the handicapped (both mentally and physically) and young children, as mentioned before. Llamas are good therapy animals because they aren’t spooked easily. They’re gentle. They’re calm, even around a lot of noise. They are instinctive and perceptive, and people like the loving attention llamas give out.
And believe it or not, llamas can be used as guard animals. They’re frequently used to watch small livestock, like goats, ponies, or sheep. If trained at a young age, they’ll stay in the field with the other animals and protect them. Goats can’t be trained to do that. Also, unlike a herd dog, you don’t have to pay for the llamas’ food. They eat the grass as they watch the other animals.
There is always the chance that llamas may spit. They’re in the camelid family (which means they’re related to camels). Mostly the llamas spit at each other. But this only happens when the llama gets extremely agitated. So if you get spit on, chances are, you deserve it. Llamas also kick each other, but they very rarely kick a human. You are in more danger of injury around all the other farm animals combined than around llamas. They are so laid back that many never get restless.
Many people prefer horses to llamas. Granted, horses can be ridden by adults, and for long distances, where llamas can’t be ridden by adults. But llamas aren’t as likely to have an attitude like horses sometimes do. Llamas don’t need as much space as horses or sheep. Also, it is easier and cheaper to maintain llamas’ health.
Money is always an issue. Lucky for us, llamas are very relatively inexpensive to keep. They are very easy to care for. All they need is a pasture, yard or enclosure, and water. They should be sheared for the summer months so they don’t develop heat stress. Their nails need to be clipped every month or so. They need monthly or bi-monthly de-worming treatments. Also, llamas are herd animals, so you should really purchase two or more llamas if you are just starting out.
This maintenance and cost is outweighed by the profit you could potentially make off your llamas. Alpaca wool is much desired to make clothes and blankets with. Their wool does not contain lanolin, which means it can go straight to the loom off the animal. (Lanolin is an organic waxy substance usually found in wool.) Many llama owners also sell “llama beans” which are the llama’s feces. The pellets are small and odorless and are one of the organic best fertilizers around. Many people also make llama profits by showing and breeding their animals. Pedigree, pure-blood llamas can sell for as much as $2000 in the United States.
Another nice thing about llamas is they are highly resistant to the major livestock diseases. They almost never catch whatever is going around. They live very long lives, which average at about 20 years.
If you’re going to make an investment as large as farm animals, the decision should be thought over. Obviously llamas should be included in anyone’s barnyard. They are so versatile, so affable, and extremely profitable. They are the best farm animal.
Anywho, I have renewed my love for the sexyness of David Duchovny. He should marry me. We'd have great sex. :)
Also, I am in a good mood today. This is rare. I am basking in it! It's warm, it smells like fall, Law and Order is on, I'm crushing on DD, I finished my essay on time, and I'm pretty much done with classes for the day.
Yay!