Heat Stress

Llamas evolved in the higher altitudes of the Andes Mountains where the temperature rarely gets above 75 to 80 degrees. They are not equipped to handle high heat and humidity. This creates management problems in many parts of the United States during the summer months.

There is individual variation in heat tolerance among llamas. Some are naturally more predisposed to heat stress than others. Some llamas are predisposed because of their physical condition. Many factors play a role in which llamas become heat stressed and which llamas do not. With the exception of the weather, we can alter many of the factors to decrease the risk to the llamas.

The combination of temperature and humidity puts llamas at risk for heat stress. A temperature which is usually not a problem can be hard on llamas if the humidity is very high or vice versa. An easier way to determine if temperature and humidity are too high for llamas is to use a Heat Index. To calculate the Heat Index, add the temperature to the relative percent humidity to get a single number. The number you get will help determine your risk of heat stress to llamas.

When the Heat Index gets above 120, watch for signs of heat stress in your llamas. Knowing the normal temperature of your llamas in the morning and afternoon/evening during hot weather will help you determine what is abnormal. It will also get your llamas used to having their temperature taken. This makes it less stressful for them when you need to take their temperature. The signs of heat stress to look for are:

• A temperature greater than 105 to 106 degrees
• Stiffness due to muscle soreness (an early sign)
• Ataxia (an uncoordinated gait)
• Open mouthed breathing
• Drooling
• Unwillingness to get up
• Depression and lethargy

There are ways to combat the many factors involved in the development of heat stress. Prevention is always easier than dealing with a problem which is already present.

Ways to Combat Heat Stress in Llamas:

Shade

Trees around the barn and barnyard or in the fields give llamas a cooler place to rest during the day. If you lack trees, artificial shading devices are available to help keep livestock out of the direct sunlight. Keep all water in shaded areas so it stays as cool as possible.

Multiple Water Buckets

During hot weather multiple water buckets should be available. Some llamas may sit by a water bucket and guard it to prevent others from drinking. A simple solution to this problem is to have water available from several different areas so that no llama can prevent others from drinking.

Fans

Air flow is critical to maintaining a cooler area for the llamas to stay. Fans will help cool the llamas directly as well as increase the air flow of the entire barn. Depending on the size of the fan and their positioning, one fan is needed for every 2 to 6 llamas. During the hottest parts of the year, fans should be kept running 24 hours a day. It will help with cooling during the night too, especially the barn.

Hosing with Water

Llamas who are hot will readily accept water sprayed onto them. Wet down the llama's legs, belly, tail area and front of the neck all the way to the skin. If you do not wet to the skin, a layer of wet wool may trap heat close to the llama's body. This in addition to the fans will make a big difference in their ability to tolerate the heat. This can be done once in the early afternoon or around mid-day and mid to late afternoon. It will not damage the llama's fiber. Even if your llamas do not need to be sprayed regularly, have a hose around to cool off llama a which develops heat stress.

Shearing

Shearing is a must for any llama in a climate which can have several hot and humid days. It allows the llama to remain cooler and be cooled by a fan or water much more easily. Shearing too close could result in sunburn if the llama is in the sun too long. It is most important to shear the body and trim around the armpits, thighs and tail to increase air flow over their main thermoregulatory areas. Consider shearing the llama from head to tail. They are much cooler than with any other cut and it gets rid of all mats and dirty areas.

Baby Pools

Some llamas really like water during warmer weather. A sturdy baby pool with cool clean water in a shaded area will be attractive to some. A few llamas will actually lay down in the pool to cool their entire underside and legs. Many others will stand with their feet in the pool. The llamas who lay down in the pool may damage the fiber below the water line. This may be a consideration, but do not sacrifice your llama's health for beauty.

Streams and Ponds

Streams and ponds in fields can be a good place for llamas to get cooled off. Similar to the baby pool, some will wade in and others will just get their feet wet. A few may even go swimming. It is also a great place to immerse (if it is deep enough) a llama who is in heat stress. Ponds have been used for physical therapy for llamas recovering from a serious illness. A stream is a constant source of fresh cool water for the llamas to drink. Ponds are a source of water but can become stagnant and dirty.

Wet Sand

A sand pit in the barn or a shady area which is wet down daily will provide a cool place for llamas to lay. Llamas who do not like to lay directly in water will like to lay in the sand better. It should not damage the fiber as much as llamas in the baby pool, but it is possible. The llamas may also decide that the sand pit makes a very good place to go to the bathroom.

Banked Barns

Banked barns always stay much cooler in the summer than any other type of barn. lt is a great way to keep llamas cool. Adding fans will help with air circulation. Because air sometimes doesn't circulate as well, manure pile and urine soaked bedding should be cleaned up regularly to avoid ammonia build-up. These barns can be dark and dank and llamas do not always like dark barns. A few lights or a window or two where possible will help greatly.

Air Conditioned Areas

In very hot climates, an area of air conditioning can be very helpful to cool llamas down. It can be part of the barn that llamas can freely access or it can be a special room just for emergency situations. Air conditioning can be an expensive option and llamas may just sit in the air conditioned areas and not acclimate to the heat at all.

Water Misting

Devices which spray a mist over the llamas or across the barn can be used for cooling. It will cool the barn several degrees. There are a few problems with misters. The constant mist and movement will mat the surface of the fleeces of any llamas in the barn. Matting can actually decrease the cooling ability of the llama by trapping heat. Misting can also spread respiratory disease.

Decrease Handling and Stress

Handling your llamas when they are not accustomed to it can get them stressed which will increase their body temperature and decrease their ability to deal with the heat. Excess movement and exercise may cause heat stress in a llama who is otherwise handling the heat. Try not to perform procedures which will stress the llamas like putting them in a chute and giving shots or drawing blood. If you do have to perform any of these procedures, do them very early in the morning or well after dark once it has cooled off.

Body Condition

Just like people, overweight llamas have difficulty getting rid of excess body heat and are more prone to heat stress. Feed your llamas properly all year and avoid putting them at an increased risk for heat stress. Check the body condition for all of your llamas and know which ones are overweight. Keep a closer eye on those who are and make an extra effort to keep them cool.

Feed in the Evening

The heat generated by digesting the food your llamas eat can raise their body temperature or just make it harder to cool off. The peak heat from digestion occurs several hours after eating. Feeding in the morning would put this period during the middle of the day. Feed in the afternoon or evening so that this period occurs during the night when it is cooler.

Continue Feeding Concentrates

Concentrates are much more digestible than hay and produce less heat from digestion. Do not stop feeding concentrates to your llamas during hot weather. It will provide energy with less heat production than forage. Try to feed a lower protein concentrate. Excess protein causes an increased production of urea. A certain amount of water must be excreted with each molecule of urea. More urea production results in more urine production. Electrolytes are also lost with urine. The more urine they make, the more fluid and electrolytes they will need to replace. Llamas with depleted electrolytes are at an increased risk for dehydration and heat stress.

Free Choice Salt

Llamas should have access to free choice salt all year, but especially during the warmer months. As each animal feels the need for salt due to electrolyte loss, he/she can get some salt. Adding a little salt to their feed can also make them thirsty and increase the amount of water they drink. This will help ensure they are getting salt because some animals do not like free choice salt and will not eat it.

Electrolytes

To keep replenishing lost electrolytes, powders can be used. Some are designed to be put in the water and others are designed to be placed on feed. Most are designed for horses but will work for llamas as well. When electrolytes are placed in the water, be sure to provide an electrolyte free water source. There may be llamas who do not like the taste and will refuse to drink the supplemented water. Alternatively, a small amount placed on the food each day will ensure intake without altering the water.

Avoid Late Gestation and Parturition

Late gestation (pregnancy) and parturition (birth) are stressful periods and heat only makes it worse. The fetus is growing at a very fast rate and demands a lot of nutrition and metabolism by the mother which increases her body temperature. As the fetus gets larger it also expands towards the thorax and compromises the mother's ability to breathe. Respiration is the primary means of cooling for llamas and any compromise during hot weather can lead to heat stress, premature births or abortion. Parturition requires a great deal of exertion for the mother and the baby. Crias are often weak and stressed when born during hot weather and may become dehydrated very quickly after birth.

Avoid Weaning

Both the dam and cria become stressed during weaning. They may pace the fence with no regards to the heat and/or forget to drink enough water. Weaning a few weeks early or even a few months late to avoid the heat will be healthier for all your llamas. Do not ever wean llamas and then immediately transport them during the heat. This combines several stressors which can easily lead to heat stress alone and creates a dangerous situation.

Avoid Travelling

Transporting llamas during the hot weather can be very dangerous. Trailers do not insulate from the heat coming off the road or from the sun beating down. Travel during the cooler hours and maintain air flow and stops for water. See the page about transport for details on avoiding heat stress during transportation.

Increase Thiamine

Thiamine has been shown to increase the llama's ability to deal with stress. Increasing the amount of thiamine in the diet can decrease the incidence of heat stress.

Avoid Fescue

Fescue contaminated with endophytes (60-95% of the fescue in the US is) has been shown to increase body temperature in other animals. Presumably, it is the same for llamas. The endophytes change the flora (microbes) within the digestive tract so they are working less efficiently and producing more heat. This increases the body temperature of the animal consuming it. Avoid grazing your llamas on a pasture of mostly fescue during the hottest months of the year.

Last updated on December 29, 1997