Enjoy cheese and wine...with a llama
THE Llama Farmer Open Day in Harrisville this weekend will allow people to get up close and personal with llamas, as well as sample local wines and cheeses.
Ipswich
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THEY may be cute and furry, but Suzanne Kallenbach's llamas are also 200kg geese-protecting machines.
Ms Kallenbach has six llamas, as well as an alpaca and a goat, on her Mt Alford property near Boonah.
And while many people may think of llamas as a source of wool, Ms Kallenbach said they were also a great way to protect smaller animals from foxes and wild dogs.
"They're great livestock guardians," she said.
"We don't need to worry about the geese we have because we put a llama down there and they protect them."
Ms Kallenbach is one of a number of llama farmers from across south-east Queensland that will be present at the Llama Farmer Open Day in Harrisville this weekend.
Held at Normanby Wines on Saturday, the day will allow people to get up close and personal with llamas, as well as sample local wines, cheeses and olives.
The open day is the first of its kind to be held in the region, with previous events held at Nambour on the Sunshine Coast.
Ms Kallenbach said the day would be an opportunity for people to see and pet llamas from across the area and would be a great showcase for the Scenic Rim.
"There will be an awful lot of llamas there. We'll be doing llama walks and the llamas there will be very well trained, so kids will be able to pet them too."
Ms Kallenbach said llamas made a great pet and once tamed were very good with children and other animals.
"They're very smart and very regal animals," she said.
"They can be trained to be as gentle as can be."
The Llama Farmer Open Day will be held on Saturday at Normanby Wines in Harrisville.
ABOUT LLAMAS
Llamas have been widely used for guarding animals such as sheep and goats against dogs and other predators.
They are highly alert and have been known to run at intruding animals.
Originally published as Enjoy cheese and wine...with a llama
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