Talk:Guard llama

Update notes
I reorganized the talk page to have headings for the various issues people are concerned about. Please remember to sign your comments. Going forward it's also helpful if you can keep your comments to the topic of the section rather than making one comment referencing several issues. Comments that referenced multiple issues I have split up here and attempted to retain signatures where they existed. --Hurtstotouchfire (talk) 16:03, 19 March 2021 (UTC)

Prevalence of guard llamas
The article should be more clear in explaining to which extent llamas are actually used to protect livestock. Is it actually used by farmers, if so in what country? Har it so far only been done in research experiments? // Habj 18:08, 9 August 2006 (UTC)
 * Looking at what links here, it appears that just about every sheep farm in the USA, especially of unusual breeds, has exactly one llama in their flock. Is this true?
 * The first answer is not true. Some large sheep farms of all breeds use several guard llamas to protect seperate flocks.  For example, one guard llama would be with the rams, ewes and another with wethers (if there are any).  However, where predators are high in numbers, guard llamas are usually not used in place of traps or guns.  Only where predators or wild dogs are uncommon are guard llamas generally used.  Iowa State University did an extensive study on guard llamas and the amount of predators taking livestock.

Gelding vs Female debate
Citation for female vs gelding -- I added a citation link to a farm website that details why they recommend against male guardians, even gelded ones. The citation needed tag also noted that this is in contradiction to the recommendations of the previous citation, which is from 2019. I don't have a date for this farm website authoring but I doubt that it's newer than 2019. I'm still fairly convinced that a female guardian is the safer bet, but it would be good if the article actually explained both sides of this debate. I may be able to take a stab at editing later. --Hurtstotouchfire (talk) 16:10, 19 March 2021 (UTC)

Article image

 * Why is the guard llama article illustrated by an Argentine llama with no sheep or other livestock in the picture?
 * I did not put the picture there. It was added by someone from the the commons area.  You'll have to ask the editor who placed it there.  -- Blind  Eagle  talk ~ contribs  15:33, 15 May 2007 (UTC)

Vague critique
This page reads like an advertisement. 71.218.142.139 18:21, 5 November 2007 (UTC)

It reads like an instruction book, it says typically a gelded male is used, the later on it says a female is used! Dr doris (talk) 16:49, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

Predators?
Article currently mentions llamas may kill "predators" such as woodchucks and muskrats. However, according to their articles, woodchucks and muskrats wouldn't eat anything animals other than insects. --Bobbozzo (talk) 05:04, 25 March 2009 (UTC)
 * That's true. However, llamas are territorial and those types of critters are generally perceived as threats even if they're herbivores.   Blind  Eagle  talk ~ contribs  12:58, 25 March 2009 (UTC)

How do they guard?
there is no info on exactly how they guard their flocks. Is it by making noise, attacking, alerting or use of heavy machine guns? I could have a guess, but the article could do with some context 2A02:C7C:36BF:800:7DC9:2E24:243E:7018 (talk) 08:38, 12 June 2022 (UTC)