Any Alpaca Farmers?

[4nTN]

I`m considering starting a herd.I`m only in the learning stages.Does anyone know of anyone who has a herd?
Anyone have any suggestions or would just like to discuss this?

[NorthCountryWd]

Wife looked into it about 10 years ago and the only positive I could figure out was the tax shelter.

Met with a local that bred alpacas and the way he was trying to sell it made it seem like a pyramid scheme. Breeding females were $20k+ and males around $10k. Couldn't find any buyers of fiber (there was one consortium at the time, but the price they were paying wouldn't cover the yearly upkeep so the numbers still didn't work) and the only real income came from breeding, but that market is narrow. He's sold 14 in the past 10 years.

Prices have come down last I heard and there is a larger market for fiber now.

Good luck.

[Rickstir]

The latest issue of Farm and Ranch Magazine had a story about an Alpaca operation. One of the daily dirary selections. Interesting.

[7thswan]

I only buy Alpaca fiber, but did at one time think of getting into raising them. You can get them very inexpensively if you look around. I would not think of paying the prices for papered stock. Think- fiber and that's it, with selling a few offspring. They are are easy to handle and are smaller than most people think.

[switchman62]

I looked into it about 5 years ago and my view was exactly like NorthCountryWD. Bred females going from 5K to 25K. I had seen almost exact circumstances when people first started with Llamas and 10 years later you could get them for next to nothing. About the only difference would be the alpaca does have the fiber market.

Dave

[tinknal]

My first question would be "Why?" If you want a few to provide fiber for your own projects, go for it. If you are thinking as an investment, just walk away. Like any novelty animal, the only money is for the folks who get into it early, and get out just before the inevitable crash.

[oregon woodsmok]

The price has already crashed. They are quite cheap around here if you have the time to wait and watch.

There are some local farms and their herds keep growing bigger and bigger, which makes me suspect that they aren't having much luck selling them.

They are cute little lawn ornaments. They aren't very interested in being pets. It might be possible to work up a market for the fiber, but I heard that the wool has to be hand stripped and not shaved off. That means huge labor inputs.

So I might pay a small price if I wanted a cute lawn ornament (which I don't), but they for sure are not an investment. I don't think they'd be good to eat. They are related to llamas and llama meat is really nasty. My crew will eat anything and they refused to eat it. It ended up as dog food.

[mnn2501]

I checked into it a few years back -- looks like a pyamid scheme to me with the only people making money were breeders selling to people trying to get into the business.

[4nTN]

Originally Posted by 7thswan

I only buy Alpaca fiber, but did at one time think of getting into raising them. You can get them very inexpensively if you look around. I would not think of paying the prices for papered stock. Think- fiber and that's it, with selling a few offspring. They are are easy to handle and are smaller than most people think.

Do you use Suri or Huacaya fiber?Would you pay more for the Suri fiber?

[4nTN]

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

check with an area alpaca co-op - thats how most producers around here operate and it seems to work for them.

I will check into this,we live very rural but maybe there are farms here I didn`t know about.

[4nTN]

http://www.alpacainfo.com/about/thelifestyle.asp

I was just thinking it would be something to look into.They are not expensive anymore to buy.I don`t have hundreds of acres and I`m not looking to get rich.

[sidepasser]

Here's some links for you to help you get started:

http://www.alpacamoon.com/links.html

http://www.deepstepcreekalpacas.com/

http://www.destinyalpacas.com/

I am trying to remember the name of the B&B in Ga. where I stayed that raised Alpacas. They also started a fiber industry (spinning, etc.)..maybe it will come to me.

[sunflower-n-ks]

Cheap alpacas are showing up on CL around here. Especially the males that are being sold or given away just for fiber. Llamas are also at the cheap/free level also. A vet mentioned they are spaying the female llamas to prevent herd increases.

[Old Vet]

I pass by one most any time I got to town. The herd is growing each year. The owner has been looking to a larger pasture. she makes some money out of the shows she goes to.

[switchman62]

Also, just a heads up.
I looked at the link for the alpacainfo you had above.
I don't remember what site it was but, I just remembered that when we were looking into this before I gave them info and I started getting several emails daily from alpaca sites and could not get off their lists. after a few weeks I started getting junk from all types of sites. I finally had to switch my email.

Dave

[Esteban29304]

There are much better critters that you can raise !

[Alice In TX/MO]

Just another fad animal.

[Gary in ohio]

Not sure how far the Alpaca pyramid is now a days, but like most exotics, if you dont get in early your not going to make any money. I had Llama's and while fun to raise they didnt generate any real income, but we got into it late.

[shawnlee]

Male alpacas are generally free now from alot of places....


Considered uses are fiber and eating them...basically fancy male sheep.


Breeders who breed for fiber quality are still getting some money from the fiber and females as it is becoming more popular to use that fiber and not all fiber is close to equall.

[7thswan]

Originally Posted by 4 nTN

Do you use Suri or Huacaya fiber?Would you pay more for the Suri fiber?

I use Huacaya, usually I mix it with wool.