Welcome to the website of the British Llama Society
Llamas are members of the South American camelid family and are mostly found in the high altiplano regions of the Andes in Peru, Bolivia and Chile. They are the domesticated cousin of the wild guanaco and are extensively used by the Andean people and in the past by the Incas, as beasts of burden, for food, for fibre and their hides used as leather. The British Llama Society has been set up to promote all aspects of llama and Guanaco ownership - good husbandry, breeding, trekking, driving, showing and much more. It publishes a quarterly magazine, Llama Llink.
Very importantly it operates a registration system for llamas, guanacos, vicunas and camels; an important facility in these days of increasing regulation. It is also affiliated to British Camelids Ltd, a charity which promotes the responsible ownership of all camelids in the UK.
The Society brings together a lively community of people all of whom have been captivated by these fascinating animals. We operate a forum for all things llama related and within the forum is a special members-only area for members of the BLS.
Below you can find out all about our recent news and events!
South West Group Social
Wed, Mar 10 2010 12:10
| News
The South West group is having a social to be held at the Farm of members Rosie and Slav Pajovic, on Sunday 28th March. From 11.30 am, with a guest speaker vet . All Llama owners are welcome together of course with members of the Cornwall group, south western members and members from further afield. Location : Larkbeare Farm, Mamhead, Kenton, Exeter, Devon. Tel: A Austen for further details
re TB Awareness meetings
Wed, Mar 3 2010 12:37
| TB
Members - please see in the members area of the Forum, under "Llama Health Info." for a follow up written by the BLS Health & Welfare representative, Liz Butler.
TB Awareness Meetings (BAS)
Sat, Dec 26 2009 03:45
| Health Bulletin
A series of meetings presented by BVCS Vet, Gina Bromage, MA, VetMB, DVM, MRCVS. TB is a serious, notifiable disease which can be passed to humans. It can be caught from wildlife, from other infected livestock and from infected alpacas and llamas. The disease kills alpacas, llamas and other camelids, in some cases very quickly. The British Alpaca Society has arranged a series of TB Awareness...
The VLA, Disease Surveillance & Camelids
Sun, Dec 20 2009 08:45
| News
Saturday 13 March 2010 at the Naional Beekeeping Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2LGAt 2pm A talk will be given by James Barnett on the VLA, Disease Surveillance and Camelids. Non members of BLS are invited to attend. This event is free of charge and is being sponsored by British Camelids.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Sun, Nov 1 2009 10:43
| News
The meeting will be held at the British Bee Keepers Association Building at Stoneleigh on Saturday the 13 March 2010. Coffee will be served at 10.30am and the meeting will commence at 11am. James Barnett of the Veterinary Laboratory Association will give a talk at 2pm.
Have I Got News for You - we most certainly have!
Wed, Oct 21 2009 09:55
| PR
BLS Llama Link magazine featured on the programme Have I Got News for You, aired 18 October - watch the 5 min clip below of the comedy show and see a couple of our headline articles causing much frivolity with Martin Clunes and the cast.
Micro-chipping and Registration of Crias
Sat, Sep 26 2009 09:24
| Health Bulletin
Time to record your cria'The BLS board is working hard to look after the interests of all members and their llamas. To do this it is vital that the llama register is accurate. In other species identification measures are enforced. For example all cattle must be registered with the national cattle movement services before they are two weeks old, must carry a passport, must
Biosecurity Recommendations for UK Camelid Farmers
Sat, Jul 11 2009 03:13
| Health Bulletin
Given the recent emergence of several infectious diseases in the UK and the unknown effects of these diseases on South American Camelids, it seems prudent that camelid breeders take stock of their approach to biosecurity in order to protect these animals from disease This may mean changing some existing practices but the benefits of avoiding contact with disease should far outweigh any inconveniences
Health & Welfare Bulletin No.24 : Bovine Tuberculosis
Sun, Jun 21 2009 06:08
| Health Bulletin
Dear BLS Member Bovine TB is spreading out of control. Llamas are susceptible to bTB. As many of you are aware there are an increasing number of llamas being found to have bovine TB. Although the mode of infection is as yet unknown, it is likely to be either llama to llama, cow to llama or badger to llama. This is very concerning especially as we, as an industry, do not have any workable systems in
----------------------------------------------------
With thanks to Axel Bührmann, orazal, lucianvenutian, Veronique Debord, quinn.anya for creative commons use of pictures
