Llamas are bred primarily for packing, fiber, companions to other Llamas, pets and guards for sheep, ostriches, and other animals.

Packing is limited primarily to the Llamas, mainly because of their size. They can pack approximately 1/4 of their body weight, or about 80-110 pounds. They can pull considerably more.

Spitting has become the main attribute that many people associate with these animals.

They spit at each other to warn off other animals in their space, during food related disputes, for attention, when feeling jealous, during male-female disputes, etc. It is quite rare when Llamas and Alpacas actually spit directly at humans, normally you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Spitting is usually in the form of a spray rather than a stream. The smell of the spit is very nauseous to other Llamas and Alpacas. (Dosen't smell that great to humans either.) Llamas (and Alpacas) will 'air-out' by holding their mouths wide open to aid in getting rid of the terrible smell. It takes about 20-30 minutes to resume normal posture.