Australasian Lama Registry

Purpose

The purpose of the Australasian Lama Registry is to maintain a record of genealogy, to be a source of statistics, to record ownership and as a research resource for lamas. This information will be made available to members upon payment of the appropriate fee.

Styles or Types of Llama

There are four styles or types of llama in this registry determined by fibre type: The descriptive terms, selected by the Registry, are of South American origin and are representative of the predominant phenotypes present in Australasia. The Registry acknowledges there are other descriptive terms used throughout South America to describe the same llamas.

Classic Fibre Llama

  • Abundant guard hair visible on the body and neck of the animal, with short and minimal “downy” undercoat.
  • The presence of guard hair “mane” on the back of the neck.
  • A natural change in the fibre at the level of the elbow/stifle, with the fibre below this point being very short.
  • Natural windows of short fibre – brisket, belly, flank.
  • Minimal fibre on legs/head with characteristics like guard hair, not the downy undercoat.

Short Fibre Llama

  • A short fibre animal has a clean smooth head, ears and legs, and a short dense fibre all around the neck.
  • There is a short dense fibre of body fibre, which is double coated, having a coarser outer coat (guard hair) and a finer under coat. The fibre of a short fibre animal is at least partially shed annually.

Medium Fibre Llama

  • A medium fibre animal has a clean, smooth head and ears.
  • Although medium fibre animals may have tufts of hair below the knees or hocks, the amount is not significant. There is a dense, usually double coated fibre, of body fibre.
  • The neck fibre, which in young animals may be longish all round is partially shed on maturity, leaving a short soft fibre on the front and longer hairier fibre on the back of the neck; this sometimes resembles a mane.
  • A medium fibre animal does not have long fibre all around the neck, or significant fibre on the legs, or below the knees or hocks.
  • Fibre may be ’silky’ in nature, with a very soft or silky handle. It may exhibit wave, loft and lustre, with guard hair nearly indiscernible.

Long Fibre Llama

  • The head of a long fibre animal may be covered in short smooth hair all over or have a fringing of longer hair around or over the eyes and along the edges of the ears.
  • The fibre on the legs usually extends to below the knees or hocks.
  • The neck fibre is long all around the neck and is not shed..
  • The body fibre is long and can be either “single” (no noticeable difference between the guard hair and the under-fibre), or “double” (obvious guard hair).
  • Fibre types for long fibre llamas may vary from one, which stands out perpendicularly from the body, to one which hangs straight or is in waves, silky with lustre.
  • This long hair may result in a “parting” along the back and sometimes down the neck.

Suri Fibre Llama

  • Fibre exhibits a distinct locked architecture with lustre.
  • Fibre hangs straight down from the midline on the back. Consists of locks that form close to the skin.
  • Fibre exhibits independent movement.
  • Fibre exhibits a cool slick handle.
  • Fibre exhibits no crimp.
  • Fibre exhibits loft.
  • Coverage may vary from light to heavy.

Management of Registry

The LAA manages the registry. All data in the registry remains the property of the Llama Association of Australasia.

Identification: For registration all llamas must have an approved microchip inserted at the base of the left ear and verifiable by electronic scanning.