I do most of the llama work myself, including the breeding, so I need a group that is manageable for me. And I want to keep it fun. So here at home, especially since I got sick, we want a nice manageable number. Since we have sheep as well as llamas, many people have asked if we use our llamas as 'Guard Llamas'. This would be a good place to address that issue.
Llamas are prey animals, the same as sheep are.
My main gripe with the concept of putting llamas with a flock of sheep is the idea that the llamas can 'guard' the sheep. I think that fits the function that they perform much better. Used this way, I have no problem condoning this use for llamas. It takes a special type of personality in a llama to be 'guardy' and this is often inconsistent with the way I want my llamas to behave around me and my other animals. I think that a llama purchased as a 'watch' llama should be physically and emotionally mature, be gelded, and preferably be used in pairs, with one or 2 LGDs, if predation consists of wolves, bear or large cats.