Bio-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 28, 1992
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
MILLERSVILLE (Lancaster
Co.) You’ve heard about Mary
and the little lamb that went to
school, but students at Letort
Elementary School had an even
bigger surprise. They were
delighted when a llama came to
their school.
Levi the llama is a friendly fel
low who enjoys the hugs the stu
dents give him. He likes when peo
ple stroke his long white wool.
He even as his own language,
said Clyde Habecker who owns the
llama.
“When Levi’s ears are up, that
means he is listening,” Clyde
explained. “When his ears lay
back, that means he has a question,
and when his ears lay down against
his neck that signals that he is feel
ing hostile.”
Fortunately. Levi did not lay his
ears against his neck during his
visit to school Clyde said that lla
mas rarely feel hostile and if they
do it is usually against another
animal.
Levi visited the school as part of
the Ag in the Classroom program.
Clyde and his wife Luella raise
three llamas on their Lebanon
County farm. The llamas eat grass,
hay, and llama chow.
“A female llama costs from
$4,000 to $lO,OOO. A male costs
$2,000, and a gelding, which is a
castrated male, costs about $ 1,300.
Levi is a 6-year-old gelding who
weighs 80 pounds.
Llamas make excellent pets.
They are friendly and known to
help psychologically stressed peo
ple to relax. Llamas do not have an
odor.
Llamas are “potty trained.”
Clyde said, “They always drop
their ‘llama beans* in the same
place.”
The Llama
Clyde speaks very gently to
Levi as he strokes his neck. Both
he and Levi love to visit retirement
homes and hospitals. Levi goes
into the buildings, through hall
ways, and even up elevators.
Children and adults who are on
wheelchairs roll their chairs under
Levi’s neck so that they can reach
up and give him a hug.
Levi is especially good with
autistic children, who are often
withdrawn from reality. These
children respond well to Levi so
Clyde often takes Levi to hospitals
for these children.
Llamas weigh 25 to 30 pounds
at birth. As soon as they are bom,
they can stand on their feet to
nurse. The crias, as baby llamas are
called, are trained to wear halters
at a young age. They must remain
with their mothers for at least six
months. Llamas live to be 25 to 30
years old.
LLamas are often used as pack
animals in countries such as South
America. They can carry 80
pounds of gear. Sometimes Levi
and Luella take their llamas with
other members of the Greater
Appalachian Llama Association
and go on a llama trek. The llamas
carry tents and camping gear on
back packs.
Llamas can tolerate very cold
weather but they may suffer heat
stress in temperatures above 85
degrees.
The luxurious wool from a Ha
ma is very expensive. Sweaters
made from llama wool cost $4OO
according to Clyde.
If you would like a llama for a
pet, you need to buy two as llamas
become lonely without another
one to keep them company. Clyde
said, llamas also get along well
with sheep and goats.
Although Levi enjoys going to
schools, he also likes when people
come to visit him on the farm.
K£©
Color and cut out the food
shapes. Glue the food shapes
under one of the proper food
group headings.
BREAD, CEREAL, AND PASTA
MEAT. POULTRY, FISH. AND EGGS
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
MILK AND CHEESE
o
That Went To School
Students at Letort Elementary School were delighted when a llama came to their
school.
the llama Is a.. y fellow who enjoys the hugs the students give him. He
likes when people stroke his long white wool, said Clyde Habecker who owns the
llama.
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