Before you buy...
Ensure the seller is a BLS member and an up-to-date signatory to the BLS Sales Code of Conduct
Check that the llamas (or guanacos) you are interested in are registered with the BLS. This has a number of important benefits:
It helps ensure and ascertain that the stock you buy is not in-bred (a potential health problem).
It helps you to ensure that breeding pairs or groups can be put together that are unrelated
It helps us monitor the whereabouts of the nation's stock (vital for dealing with potential disease problems or governmental edicts).
It offers breeders the opportunity to monitor and demonstrate the progress of their breeding programmes, which in turn encourages the breeding of quality stock.
Only registered llamas can be shown at official Shows.
Ultimately we expect that only registered stock will be able to take advantage of any insurance arrangements BLS is hoping to put in place.
Talk to and visit as many members as possible - Once you have joined you are welcome to call any of our committee members or other listed contacts for a chat.
See as many llamas as you can
Attend any meetings that are being organised in your area (or beyond) AND ask questions
Ensure that you have enough land with secure fencing and shelter to keep llamas
Be prepared to have animals that may live for many years
Decide what you really want a llama for...
Trekking? Showing? Fibre?
Livestock Guarding? A companion for other livestock?
Field Pet? Breeding?
Do not buy an entire male unless you have the right facilities to keep him.
Consider the health of the animal and any others in the herd from which you are buying. Check vaccination and worming records.
Look carefully and critically at its conformation and the way it moves. Is it sound?
What is its temperament like?
Can you see the parents?
If it is sold as halter trained, can YOU put a halter on it? Can YOU lead it? Will it load into a trailer?
If it is not trained in any way, are YOU confident that YOU can do it yourself?
Check whether the animals are registered with British Camelids, and, if they are not, obtain as much information as possible about their parentage and grandparents.
Important: Ensure that the llama you are interested in is not "too friendly"! If a youngster is pushy or overtly friendly then it will have been hand-reared or over-handled. Whilst very tempting when little, such llamas have "imprinted" and will grow up to be, at best, difficult and pushy - and at worst, a danger.
REMEMBER:
Llamas are herd animals and should NEVER be kept on their own. Two or more of the same sex or gelded, make the best field pets.
Never buy a breeding pair unless you have the facilities to separate them at the appropriate time.