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Classic Llamas – The reemergence of a breed

By Margaret Van Camp

(first published in The Showring, Winter 2004)

It is a small movement, but its existence is undeniable: interest in classic llamas is growing. Spurred perhaps by increased enthusiasm for performance and packing, or perhaps as a backlash against negative perceptions of the fiber animal industry, a small but growing number of breeders are finding their way into the classic niche. Though the reasons behind the nascent resurgence of this breed may be mysterious, the appeal of classics to their devotees is anything but.

First, a definition is needed. There are others that could expound at length on the conformational distinctions of classics, but for now, the difference in fiber (which is all many people consider, anyway) will suffice. A “true” classic llama carries a double coat on its neck and body, that is, longer, coarse guard hairs protecting a shorter, fine, dense undercoat. The head, ears and legs are smooth, covered with a close-lying coat of short hair. They often exhibit a “mane” of longer guard hair along the back of the neck. In the spring, the dense undercoat sheds and can be brushed out, leaving the sparse coat of guard hair. All classics are light wools, but not all light wools are classics. And I will risk one conformational point: most classic bloodlines tend toward the taller end of the llama continuum. The report issued by the ILR Focus Group concerned with classic llamas reaffirmed the current definition of classics by coat type, with more distinctions, perhaps conformational, to come later as more data from interested breeders is considered.

So how is it that these bald-headed, bare-legged, coarse-coated Rodney Dangerfields of the llama world are widening their appeal? By all measures, money, prestige and “Best of Show” awards are not attracted to these creatures, and years of unfocused, inattentive and/or incompetent breeding have clearly reduced the higher quality classic gene pool. That said, the breed still has its aficionados, and seems to be gaining some converts lately. Though it is difficult to say exactly what might be behind the modest increase in the classics’ appeal, here are a few ideas:

Ease of care  -- For all-weather resistance and carefree upkeep, it is impossible to beat that classic llama double coat. Tolerant of extremes in both heat and cold, classics can be kept in virtually every state of the nation without needing air-conditioned barns or elaborate cold weather housing. And most classics can go from the pasture to the show ring with a thirty-minute brushing. You can’t get much more practical than this from both the llama’s and the owner’s perspective.

Time-tested bloodlines  --   The progenitors of classic llamas living in North America today were likely imported well before 1990, when the woollier specimens became more valuable. Importers were not about to waste their precious quotas on animals that were not likely to sell for premium prices.  Because of this, some classic bloodlines, many going back to the Hearst, Catskill, and Patterson herds, have been scrutinized for as long as fifty years, and even the most recently imported classic bloodlines have been tested for almost twenty years. This cannot be said for many recently imported bloodlines, whose hidden flaws have yet to be expressed in the offspring.

“Rare Breed” appeal  --  The day is soon coming (if it hasn’t happened already) when suris will be more numerous than classics. It’s almost a sure bet that there are more suris being bred than classics at this point in time. So if rare breeds are your thing, classics are for you. In order to avoid creating any more genetic bottlenecks, breeders of classics are striving to diversify their bloodlines with high-quality classics from other parts of the country, but are finding the selection surprisingly limited. Some of the straight classic bloodlines are in danger of extinction, and it will take a concerted effort to preserve them. Yes, there will always be plenty of classic genes co-mingled with the wooly, silky and even suri phenotypes,  but separating out the classic genes after the fact is a little like  trying to separate sugar and salt once they have been shaken together. The best strategy is to store them separately. The problem is that the supply pure sugar (i.e. classic phenotype) is getting rather low.

New owner appeal  --  Classics remain one of the best choices for first-time llama owners. Their conformation (leg structure, neck set, tail set, topline, gait) is clearly visible without the often confusing effect of wool. What you see is what you get, conformationally speaking, with classics. They are also, as a rule, more affordable than their woollier counterparts, simple because more buyers want all that “gorgeous, dripping” wool to look at and deal with.  If classic llamas were a market share, they would be termed “undervalued.”  When you combined these two facts with the points above, you have an animal tailor-made for the new owner just making the leap into llamas.

Now, there have been several suggestions as to how to increase the number of classic llamas here in North America . Several ideas center around shows. One suggestion is to create a classic wool show category, a la the suri and miniature classes found at some shows. This, it is argued, would encourage owners to enter their classics in shows without having to compete against the ever-woolier non-classic light wools now competing in many light wool classes. However, it would also deprive the light wool classes of critical entry numbers needed for ALSA points. Another suggestion is to expand futurity classes by including those devoted to classics. Advocates believe this would tempt classic owners with monetary rewards to enter events they would never have considered entering previously. Unfortunately, futurities also require plenty of money to enter as well, what with the entry fees, stalling fees, herdsire nomination fees, etc. usually being higher than a typical show, accompanied by travel expenses. Futurities operate on the principle that everyone pays so that a few can win, which is great for the winners, but somewhat costly for most participants. That is just the way they work, and that’s fine, but that doesn’t make them a potentially big motivator for owners to breed more classic llamas, since classics have very little chance to ever be sold for anything even approaching the higher-priced silkies and suris.

I disagree with the idea of using the show and futurity ring to encourage the breeding of any type of llama. Breeding classics (or any type of llama, for that matter) primarily as show animals is not the best way to improve any breed, as has been shown numerous times in other species.  A better route is the continuation of the albeit slow growth in interest in classics as a breed brought about by responsible, informed classic breeders promoting their animals.  On their side they have many years of classics proving themselves to be excellent pack stock and performance animals, while at the same time being easy to care for, tough as nails, and just as easy to train as any other llama. It is far superior, in my view, to breed and own classics out of a genuine love of the breed, rather than under the assumption that they will earn money or showring success for the owner. If more people continue to look at and be impressed with the wonderful characteristics of this breed, then the modest growth can do nothing but continue. And if not, that’s OK too. Classics will still be my favorites.

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