Llamas on patrol to protect lambs
Llama patrol protects little lambs from foxes
Published:
LLAMAS have been drafted in to protect lambs from pesky foxes on an Aberdeen farm.
The creatures were moved into the same field as the sheep following a spate of vicious attacks.
Foxes managed to kill eight young lambs in just eight days at the Rowett Research Institute in Bucksburn. Two weeks ago farm manager James Law decided to put the llamas in with the sheep and their young.
And since then there has not been one attack on the defenceless lambs.
James said: “We were having a problem in that lambs were being found dead and eaten by foxes.
“There was one a day for about eight days in a row.
“Then about two weeks ago we moved the llamas in with the sheep to try to protect them from the foxes and so far it seems to have worked 100%.”
The Rowett Research Institute recently sold a herd of 31 llamas at an auction in Carlisle after a merger with the University of Aberdeen.
Most of the llamas were bought to protect livestock, and the practice is now commonly used in America.
Mr Law said: “It is quite well known within the farming community that llamas can warn off predators.
“They are used across Scotland and in America as well.
“But this is the first time we have ever used them here because we have never had a problem before.
“We know there are a lot of foxes around this area and the new-born lambs are in a high-risk field.”
Llamas, who traditionally live in the mountains of Peru, will kick and spit if provoked.
In 2004 llamas were used as bodyguards for sheep and lambs in a country park in Wrexham.
During a study in America, 145 sheep producers using guard llamas were questioned.
More than half of them reported a 100% reduction in the number of attacks by coyotes.
Llamas are thought to be effective body guards for sheep 95% of the time.
The best llamas for the job are two-year-old castrated males. Younger males will work but it can take longer to become fully effective.
James said: “We have been really pleased with the way things have worked so far – hopefully that will continue.”
