LAMB LOSSES and OUT FOXING THE FOX
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Alpacas & llamas have a natural desire to chase dogs & foxes
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Lambing is an important time in the sheep man’s calender. It is obvious that the enormous cost involved with lamb losses from fox predation demands the unavoidable expense of fox control - in both dollars and labour.
I am aware that many farmers consider baiting to be a two edged sword – get rid of the fox and maybe lose the sheepdog to a fox bait too. Those concerned for wildlife or leaning towards permaculture may have environmental issues about baiting too.
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Several years ago, we pursued a shooting regime to reduce the foxes. It worked – but new ones just moved in.
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Now I scarcely see a fox, or if I do it is in full flight pursued by my llamas and alpacas – they won’t tolerate the intrusion of a fox or unknown dog on their turf. In USA sheep farmers are successfully using llamas to bond with sheep and lambs to guard them against coyotes.
An alpaca grower at Mudgee, reported that his neighbour was involved in the fox poisoning program. The baits were being taken in large numbers except along the boundary fence – where the baits were untouched. Closer investigation revealed that the other side of the boundary was being patrolled by alpacas. The foxes wouldn’t take baits even though there was a fence to protect them from the alpacas!
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A Victorian farmer reports that his alpacas cornered a fox in an electrically fenced paddock and then stomped him to death. A Southern Tablelands farmer said his lamb losses to fox predation dropped to nil with the addition of 2 llamas. An alpaca-less farmer reported only 17% lamb weaning rate, but the following year with the addition of 2 alpacas for fox protection 100% weaning.
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There are some extra bonuses too – alpacas and llamas do well on just pasture – they too are grazing livestock. Once living with sheep, goats or deer, the llama/alpaca quickly bonds with them and is keen to protect the new-borns.
It is no surprise that farmers using alpacas or llamas for 24-hour-a-day fox control are delighted with their new "automatic weapon". The "weapon" living up to 25 years makes a llama or an alpaca a very feasible investment. The best ideas are often the simple ones!
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For more details information, please download the document "Outfoxing_the_fox.doc" (28kb)
