Llama-Breeding Packs a Punch Across Britain : Trends: The animals’ popularity is growing along with their soft fur and long lashes. They can be trained to go over jumps, much as horses do in dressage.

The llama adapted well to the Safrans’ rural horse farm, eagerly grazing the lush grass meant for the horses the couple raised, but Ordell Safran was skeptical.

“I thought the last thing I needed to take care of was another animal,” she said. “But as soon as I heard they were difficult to get, it was like waving a flag. I had to have some more.”

The animal’s long lashes and soft, furry lips also helped, Ordell Safran admitted. A mate was purchased and the Safrans started breeding llamas in England.

“Little did I realize that one llama would turn into 30,” Henry Safran said, laughing. He was less surprised when his wife, already a dedicated horsewoman, started to train the llamas.

“I found other people who had llamas,” Ordell Safran said. “It seemed people were breeding them rather haphazardly.”

The Safrans, expatriate Americans, collected information from the United States, where the South American pack animals are more popular. What they learned convinced them that llamas can be big business.

Preacher is the reigning champion among the Safrans’ herd--his fine chestnut wool, liquid brown eyes and alert demeanor helped him win Britain’s first public llama show in July.

The Safrans and other llama enthusiasts organized the “llamarama” in Ascot, a small town southwest of London known better for its horse races.

Ordell Safran said she thought showing llamas would be a good way to organize hobbyists and encourage interest in the gentle ruminants.

“My idea of a llama show was so people would breed them more sensibly, try to breed a healthier, sturdier animal,” she said.

Trainers Jo Kain and Robert Blatch learned that the llamas would go over jumps much like horses do in dressage competitions.

“They’re quite quick to catch on,” Blatch said. Trainers do not ride the llamas, which can carry loads of about 60 lbs.; instead, they lead them over the jumps. The llamas were ready for competition after only a few months.

An expert in llamas came from the Netherlands to judge the 45 entrants, which Henry Safran said came from all over Britain.

“There are only about 500 llamas in all of Britain, so that is a pretty good percentage,” he said.

The Safrans raise their llamas for fun, but are hoping to develop an industry around their wool, or fiber.

“It’s much softer than sheep’s wool,” Henry Safran said. “It is also much more valuable.”

The animals themselves are valuable too. Henry Safran said males sell for between $1,400 and $2,100, while females go for between $7,000 and $10,500.

But Ordell Safran values her pets for more than monetary value.

“They’re really gentle, calm animals,” she said. “They’re very intelligent and relaxing, because you can’t be tense around them. They don’t like fast movements.

“When I have had a really bad day, I go down in the stalls with them.”