Registration Requirements

The Registry is currently divided into five divisions:

  • The Llama Division (Lama glama)
  • The Alpaca Division (Lama pacos)
  • The Guanaco Division (Lama guanacoe)
  • The Vicuna Division (Lama vicuna)
  • The Cross‑bred Division.

Llama Division (Lama glama)

The Llama Division is closed, meaning that before a llama can be registered, each parent must either be registered as a Class R or Class S llama. Llamas not meeting all the criteria for Class R or Class S will be designated Class L until all the criteria for Class R or Class S designations are met.

1) Class R Requirements

Only the current owner may register or list a llama. The application must be submitted on the currently approved Registry application form, or online (if the llama is already registered with the Canadian Llama and Alpaca Association, a signed and dated photocopy of the llama's Canadian Registration Certificate will be accepted in lieu of the ILR application form) and must include the following information:

(a)  A valid proposed name (Section VII)

(b) The llama's sex

(1)   Male – a male capable of breeding

(2)   Female – a female capable of breeding

(3)   Gelding – a castrated male (Llamas designated on their certificates as “geldings”, but who are not castrated, can have their certificates corrected to “Male” upon receipt of a signed statement from a veterinarian verifying the llama has not been gelded or upon receipt of a written correction from the owner who made the original “gelding” designation).

(4)   Infertile – a female that is incapable of breeding

(5)   Non-breeder – a male or female, who may be capable of breeding, but who has been designated by the owner as a non-breeder. Only the current owner can designate an animal as a “non-breeder”, and no offspring from a “non-breeder” can be registered. Non-breeder status can be reversed by written request from the owner who made the original designation and payment of the appropriate fee.

(c) The name and identification number of the sire

(d) The name and identification number of the dam

(e) Identification photographs

(1)   Two photographs are required - one of the left side and one of the right side.

(2)   Photographs must show entire llama close up, must be of sufficient quality to allow individual identification of the animal and should not include other animals.

(3)   Photographs must be 3” x 5” or 4” x 6”. Photographs that are not of the right size will result in either listing the animal or in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for trimming and/or cropping.

(4)   Digital photos can be submitted online or must be of sufficient quality and submitted on heavy paper stock. Digital photos received on flimsy paper will result in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for putting backing on the photos.

 (f) All required DNA records on file:

(1) Llamas that must have DNA on record:

(a) Sires having 10 or more registered or listed crias must have their DNA on record before their progeny may be registered.

i)   Sires used for outside service and who have two (2) or more cria must have their DNA on record.  When such sires do not have their DNA on record, progeny that are the result of outside breedings may not be registered.

ii)   All screened llamas must have their DNA on record before a Class S or Class R document will be issued.

(2) Llamas that must have parent verification with qualifying DNA on record. To qualify by DNA, each parent must have its blood compared to that of the relevant cria and must not be ruled out as a possible parent on the basis of such comparison.  The normal requirement is that both parents of a given cria qualify simultaneously.  

(a)  There are two or more possible sires. One sire must qualify.

(b)  Sire's age at the time of the cria's birth was less than 20 months. Sire must qualify.

(c)  Dam's age at the time of the cria's birth was less than 15 months. Dam must qualify.

(d) The length of time between service and birth was less than 10 months or more than 13 months. Dam must qualify.

i)    The cria is the result of Advanced Reproductive Technologies (ART), which includes but is not limited to Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI). Both sire and dam must qualify. Only two (2) cria per “dam at conception” are allowed per 10-month period. An owner may petition the Board to allow registration of more than two cria per dam per 10-month period. No more than 10 full siblings are allowed.

ii)   The parentage of a llama has been called into question by successful petition.  (The Registry may require the owner(s) of the llama itself and of its parents to DNA test the llamas involved.)

(g) Current owner and parent verification signatures. Signatures must be first-person handwritten unless the Registry has been notified in writing in advance that a stamped signature will be used. Electronic or faxed signatures submitted in accordance with current Registry procedures will also be accepted. Signatures will be accepted from authorized agents provided the Registry has been notified in writing in advance of the agent authorization. Registry records must include appropriate registration, listing, or transfer documents showing ownership by the person(s) signing the registration application as the owner of the llama being signed for. If Registry records do not confirm that the person(s) signing the application actually owned the sire and/or the dam when the dam was serviced or the dam when the cria was born, a confirmation of ownership must be filed and the appropriate fee paid.

(1)    The name, owner code, and signature of the sire owner at the time of service.

(2)    The name, owner code, and signature of the breeder (the dam owner at the time of service).

(3)    The name, owner code, and signature of the dam owner at the time of birth.

(4)    The name, owner code, and signature of the current owner verifying that the information is correct.

(5)    If all four of the above signers are the same person, the “current owner signature” will be accepted as fulfilling the requirement of all four signatures.

(h) Required microchip on file:

(1) All screened llamas must have a microchip number on record before a Class S or Class R document will be issued.

(2) All cria that are the result of Advanced Reproductive Technologies (ART), which includes but is not limited to Embryo Transfer (ET) and Artificial Insemination (AI), must have a microchip number on file before a Class R certificate will be issued.

(i) The appropriate fee

2) Class L Requirements (Declared Llamas Only)

Only the current owner may list a llama. The application must be submitted on the currently approved Registry application form and must include the following information:

(a)  A valid proposed name (Section VII)

(b) The llama's sex (see Section 1 "Class R Requirements", (b) The llama's sex )

(c) Identification Photographs –

(1)    Two photographs are required - one of the left side and one of the right side.

(2)    Photographs must show the entire llama close up, must be of sufficient quality to allow individual identification of the animal and should not include other animals.

(3)    Photographs must be 3” x 5” or 4” x 6”. Photographs that are not of the right size may result in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for trimming and/or cropping.

(4)    Digital photos are acceptable but must be of sufficient quality and submitted on heavy paper stock. Digital photos received on flimsy paper will result in a $5 charge per photo to the owner for putting backing on the photos.

(d) The appropriate fee is included.

(e) Current owner and parent verification signatures. Signatures must be handwritten unless the Registry has been notified in writing in advance that a stamped signature will be used. Electronic or faxed signatures submitted in accordance with current Registry procedures will also be accepted. Signatures will be accepted from authorized agents, provided the Registry has been notified in writing in advance of the agent authorization. Registry records must include appropriate registration, listing, or transfer documents showing ownership by the person(s) signing the registration application as the owner of the llama being signed for.

(1)   The name, owner code, and signature of the sire owner at the time of service.

(2)   The name, owner code, and signature of the breeder (the dam owner at the time of service).

(3)   The name, owner code, and signature of the dam owner at the time of birth.

(4)   The name, owner code, and signature of the current owner verifying that the information is correct.

(5)   If all four of the above signers are the same person, the “current owner signature” will be accepted as fulfilling the requirement of all four signatures.

 

Note: Crossbred lamas that have seven great-grandparents each classified R or S will be declared llamas and designated Class R.

 

3) Class S Requirements

Although the Llama Division is closed, it is desirable to have a mechanism to introduce diversity into the llama gene pool. Screening is a mechanism to allow that to happen while at the same time trying to insure that the lamas accepted into the Registry as llamas are, indeed, Lama glama.

(a) A lama is eligible for screening when:

(1)   It has been designated Class L.

(2)   It has not been previously screened by the Registry.

(3)   It is older than two years old (24 months).

(4)   It has an implanted and recorded microchip.

(5)   The Class L listing document shows no unconfirmed or conflicting data and has been surrendered to the Registry.

(6)     A signed screening release form is on file with the ILR.

(7)     A DNA report is on file before a Class S or Class R document will be issued.

(8)     Llamas without two registered parents , which reside in a foreign country, must be screened in the country of embarkation. In order to be screened in the United States at a later date, the animal must be under six (6) months old (too young to be screened according to ILR rules. This animal must be designated Class L, DNA tested and microchipped in the country of origin and prior to importation into the USA.)

(b) The screening process is as follows:

(1)   An application if filled out and a fee paid to begin the screening process.

(2)   An ILR approved veterinarian with extensive camelid experience will evaluate each animal that passes the initial photo screening. The veterinarian will examine the llama for any medical or physical disqualifying characteristics and for evidence of alpaca or guanaco traits and they will make a report on their findings to the ILR board of directors. If any disqualifying medical or physical characteristics are found, the screening will go no further and the llama will receive a “D” (denied) status and cannot be registered in the llama or crossbred division.

(3)   The ILR Registrar and Board of Directors will evaluate a set of twelve (12) required photographs as indicated on the screening form. If they feel the animal may be a crossbred, the owner will be given an opportunity to present additional photos or a videotape of the animal for further evaluation. The final decision will be based on a majority of the Registrar and ILR Board of Directors, and no appeal will be considered. Animals not designated as llamas shall be assigned to the appropriate division based on the species contributing to the cross, e.g. alpaca-llama, guanaco-llama. Screening fees are non-refundable and stay with the llama's application even if the llama is sold before the screening is completed.

(4)   The Registrar and ILR Board of Directors will review the photos and documentation and make the final determination on the animal. The final decision will be based on a majority of the Registrar and ILR Board of Directors and that decision will be final. If the animal is denied entry into the Llama Division because of the phenotypic evaluation, it will be placed in the appropriate crossbred division.

(5)   Llamas that successfully complete the screening process will be designated Class S.

(c) Offspring designations of screened parents.

(1)   the offspring of Class S llamas will be given an R (registered) designation if:

 i) They have two (2) Class S parents.

ii) They have a Class S and a Class R parent.

(2)   The offspring of a Class S llama must be screened if the other parent is not Class S or Class R. If the offspring successfully passes screening it will be given a Class S designation.