Off Topic: Alpacas For Business

http://www.bayspringsalpa...

Hi V1-P and all,
We've been earning our living from alpacas for 12 years now. Are we making money hand over fist? No, but we have a operating ranch, a wonderful lifestyle and have managed to improve our stock and be independent of employers for a long time...which was one of our goals.

Alpacas have been supporting economies in South America for years. When one looks at the numbers of alpacas as opposed to other livestock here, it is minimal and there is room for growth, lots of it. If one owns acreage, being on a farm schedule tax wise has its advantages. I can card, spin and make felt (material) out of this gorgeous fleece and take pride in the results. The fleece market could be said to be a cottage market at this time where "value added" is the ticket. Those who can have ranch or farm stores on their own property have added benefit to their income. In this economy, alpaca prices have come down considerably, while new buyers have the advantage of the improved animals which are being bred. Well, as you can see, I can go on and on.

I have ruminated a "Guide to Alpaca Ownership" and if you will contact me privately, I will be happy to answer any questions you might have and send you a copy of the Guide by email. I would not, I repeat, in this economy, I would not go into raising alpacas as a sole source of income. But if you are setting up for self-sufficiency and need additional income, this is a wide open area for entrepeneurs. We do sell fleece and I am always interested in ideas from fiber artists, weavers, knitters and crocheters. I love alpacas and what they have done for our lives.

I did a bit of research on Alpacas as a business a while back. The business part mainly seems to be simply breeding and selling alpacas to others who want to get into the "business." There is an industry group that works together in selling the wool, but there did not seem to be much money involved in that - maybe not even worth it. Kinda seems like a fad pet/animal hobby spurred on by all the television advertisements for them.

and they do well....

If you want to get in touch with them email me ... I will see what I can do..
You can contact them and ask them all the questions you need

We find them to be delightful, fascinating, useful, and easy keepers. They can pack elk and deer out of the mountains as well as pull carts. They eat noxious weeds around here. They keep predators away and act as protectors of our chickens and goats. The wool is softer to the touch, lighter in weight, warmer and less prone to itch than sheep's wool. I have encountered weavers over the years who buy wool outright but we have never sold any of ours. The last time I checked into it, llama wool was fetching $4/lb more than sheep's wool. The weaving I know how to do, I learned from my mom and oma but I think it's highly possible to be self-taught in this craft. I have a llama wool coat and it is one of my favorites....the wool makes beautiful pieces.

**the soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears**

be miniature cattle. They are less expensive to feed, great for small homesteads and could transport them easier. This is what I would get into if I had a few acres.
http://www.minicattle.com...

Its sort of a scam if you get them through "the network" (or something like that). It seems theres a much bigger market for starting Alpaca operations than in any alpaca products. Buffalo, on the other hand are getting popular.

There have been some cautions about goats milk. I heard only 2 breeds of goats have good quality goats milk. Other than for your own family farms needs, how do you make money in a goats market?

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Since I plan on moving soon..To an out of the way, small farm.
I've done a little research, and my wife has done more.
We've gotten the feeling that it's not unlike a Multi-level marketing scheme.

the money is in convincing others to do the same as you. So you can then sell them, and whoever they recruit, breeding stock.

that we hope to breed eventually and milk, for our little homestead. They are cheap to raise and their milk doesn't have to have a cream separator like most goat's milk, and it is high in fat for butter, cream, sour cream, cheese, etc. She is so cute. http://s302.photobucket.c...
About the alpacas, I don't know about alpacas especially, but the term you should use is spin, then weave. But in a lousy economy, I don't know if it would go over much, as alpaca's wool is more than regular sheep's wool, and most people spin and weave just for fun.

Ostrich, Emu, Llama business. (Or any other exotic breed business) Those in the business early do quite well selling breeding stock to others starting in the business--then as there is plenty of breeding stock, and no demand for the produce of the animal, the business wanes.

but I'm expanding the thread by saying that goats are a wonderful option for self-sufficiency and for business.

Goat milk is much healthier than cow milk (don't know about alpaca milk), and the animals are more efficient to raise.