Llamas serve many purposes on Pern, some of which are well known...and some of which are not.
Llamas as pets:
Generally, llamas do not make good pets. It can be done, but they are herd animals and are only content when around a number of other people and familiar animals. Most llamas are happiest when with another companionable llama, and bond quickly to those who might be unfamiliar. After all, would /you/ be comfortable living with a herd of strange stinky llamas? No. Well, that's how the llama feels.
Llamas as pack animals:
Llamas make excellent pack animals, as they can carry up to one-hundred pounds and travel a distance of twenty miles in one day. A llama should /never/ be overloaded, and all weight should be evenly destributed on the animal's back. Llamas should not be ridden by adults. It is possible for them to carry an adult, but the load may be too heavy, and the llama will simply lie down and refuse to move. A llama can be taught wear a saddle and give children rides on special occasions, but not all the time. Not all children, mind you, but the relatively thin ones should be okay.
Llamas as guards:
They are easily trained to perform simple tasks, and can even be taught to gaurd ovines. They are very protective and will run slashing with their feet at a wild feline that threatens the herd. Gelded males are the best picks for this particular job, as it makes them feel important, and you won't have to worry about them...er hem..."going after" the girl ovines.
Llama wool:
A llama's coat is soft, warm, and relatively easy to work with. It comes in a wide range of colors...from white to black and and endless list of browns. Fiber that includes a large amount of course "gaurd hair" can be easily woven into rope...even a lead rope. In effect, you can lead a llama with a rope made from /that/ llama, and THEN won't he feel special?
Training llamas for other tasks:
Generally, llamas are quick learners. Once they have repeated a task four or five times, they have it down. A new llama may take a little while to get used to his owner, but once he is, that owner can count on being followed everywhere.
Llama Hygiene:
Llamas are generally clean animals. Their droppings are similar to that of ovines and make excellent fertilizer. They will return to one spot to relieve themselves time and again, and will not eat anywhere near this particular place (would you?). The oder is not terrible for humans, and is in fact, barely detectable unless you stick your nose in it, which I don't suggest you do.
Llamas as food:
For the most part, llamas are not considered a food animal on Pern. Wild felines may pick one off every now and then, but otherwise llamas are not a commonplace meal item. Llama milk is drinkable, but not utalized since there are bovines to produce that for the people of Pern. Besides that, llamas only produce enough milk for their offspring, and no more...and besides that, eating llamas is just gross.
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