This article has been prompted by the many inquiries I have received from people attempting to acquire information, which is relevant to purchasing and raising alpacas. In it I will explore the many intricacies involved in planning a successful alpaca purchase as well as share some pointers to assist in making a satisfactory selection.
Events
Your initial goal should be to learn all there is to know about alpacas before purchasing them. One of the best ways is to attend alpaca-related events There is always a lot going on in the alpaca industry, particularly during the late spring, summer and early fall months. Alpacas magazine lists everything that's taking place during the course of the year. Plan to attend as many of the conferences, workshops and alpaca buyer and investment seminars as possible. The more animals you see, the more familiar you will become with them. Attending these get-togethers will establish a comfort zone for the novice as a base of alpaca knowledge is created.
Usually, these gatherings offer great opportunities to visit with lots of owners in addition to getting your eyes full of alpacas. Don't forget to touch the fleece and feel the animal on all sides with your hands. Nothing can equal the hands-on learning process, for after you've done it enough, you'll be able to notice the similarities and differences between animals.Alpaca functions are also the perfect time to ask the owners any and all questions you may have about characteristics to look for, care and handling, or any other alpaca topic. No matter how much you read, there arealways a number of questions raised that can only be answered in person. Make a list before you get there, and don't be shy about referring to it.You'll find that most alpaca owners are happy to share their knowledge as well as have you handle their alpacas.
Farm Visits
Another high priority on your paca pilgrimage is to visit as many farms as possible.Each farm has different ways of accomplishing the various tasks related to raising and breeding alpacas.It's good to visit farms in your area as they deal with comparable problems and their animals are acclimatized, and have already developed immunity to similar bacteria. The climate plays a particularly important role for the animals and owners.For instance, summer temperatures and humidity in the South are vastly different, even from the West, which has heat and low, or no humidity. The South doesn't experience the cold, snowy winters of the West, Midwest, or Canada. The climate is definitely a factor to consider when introducing an alpaca to a new environment.
If you bring a camera, video camera, tape recorder, notebook, business plan and, of course, your list of questions, your farm visit will be thoroughly productive.After you've conversed with several owners and toured a few farms, you’ll be able to compile a composite of what your ideal farm set-up will be. Don't rush through your visit, but plan on spending at least a half-day at each farm if not all of it. Most people who visit Lanark* end up spending the entire day with us.
One good way to classify the alpacas you see is to take pictures of the ones that appeal to you and list the reasons why.That way, you won't get home with stacks of photos and wonder later why you took certain ones.That's happened to us, so we learned through experience to write down our thoughts about each animal on the spot.In addition, you should note the pedigree so you can check with the Alpaca Registry for further birthing information.
Over the years, we have found that a video camera is a wonderful way to capture alpacas in motion and evaluate their conformation.The combination of still shots from the camera and the motion picture from the video really make your selection process easier.
Questions are the foundation of the information gathering procedure that comprises part of your selection process, so you should ask as many questions as possible.Seek to understand the goals of each individual farm and discover what their concept of a well-balanced herd is.Inquire how they got started.Did they buy pregnant females or weanlings? Did they lease a herdsire, buy a male weanling or an adult male? Ask the breeder to explain their individual breeding program and show you the crias from their herdsire. Have them point out their best alpacas and explain their personal evaluation process.Asking questions will help the new person form a picture of what their options are as they continue their quest into the word of alpacas.
When you finally find the farm that might be the one from whom you make your purchase, ask if you could spend a day working with them.That's the best way to learn how they manage their alpacas.The workday may include worming, toenail clipping, grooming, shearing, breeding and any number of other routine tasks.We are now offering this program at Lanark* and have found it a highly successful learning method for non-owners and brand new owners. This type of hands-on experience offers a wealth of knowledge that prepares you to manage your own alpacas.
The selection process should only begin once you have reached a level of comfort in handling and evaluating an alpaca. This will only come through traveling to several events and visiting many farms, handling and looking at a lot of alpacas, and asking a seemingly endless amount of questions. There are no shortcuts to knowledge.
Look at the overall appearance
Selecting an alpaca requires numerous steps. We usually go through everything that is for sale and pick out what is most pleasing to our eyes. This is a time to truly be colorblind and look at the overall appearance.The chosen alpacas are placed in a catch pen so that we can handle them and closely observe their movements.
The overall appearance should have a balanced look. Do you like the face and head? Does the neck seem too long or the legs too short? Everything needs to be in proportion. Watch how they walk. Is their gait unencumbered by their conformation?It will take a while to see everything you're looking for, but that's why you need to look at a lot of alpacas instead of just one or two.
Conformation
In my opinion, conformation is the single most important factor in selecting an alpaca.We have seen the right herdsire add wool, color and even bone density to a herd, but we've found that it's very difficult to correct major angulation problems.
While I don't believe that there is a perfect alpaca, conformation should be as correct as possible. The front and back legs should be fairly straight. At times, due to wool placement, they may seem to be slightly splayed or even a bit knock-kneed. Remember that a cria's conformation adjusts with age and nutrition, for they go through awkward stages as they develop.An adult's conformation, on the other hand, is set and will not change with age.
When you look at the head of an alpaca, the ears should be spear-shaped with a straight top line. Every female should have four teats and every male should have two testicles.If you're in doubt as to whether the testicles have dropped, ask a veterinarian to examine the alpaca for you.Next, check the alpaca's bite.This is a critical factor in selecting the correct alpaca.After all, they use their teeth and dental pad like a pair of scissors when they eat grass.The teeth should come up to the dental pad in a good bite.If the teeth don't meet the dental pad, the alpaca will have trouble getting enough to eat. An alpaca gets its permanent teeth at around two years of age.At this time, they will start to push the original ones out of place. This process transpires over a three-year period, and there are times when the bite may look strange.
Fiber and Color
The fiber should be dense and have a nice crimp to it when the fleece is parted on the back of the huacaya alpaca. The coverage should be uniform and extend throughout most of the alpaca's body. My advice on color is to own one of every shade. In my experience, different colors tend to highlight and contrast others.A herd of only one color is monotonous and loses its appeal quickly. During my 20 years in retailing, a balanced assortment of color was the key to successful sales, and I feel that this premise applies to alpacas as well. In addition, a specific color does not always reproduce in the next generation.
Pedigree
Take a good look at the dam and sire of your selected alpaca.Their progeny will look similar.If there is an objectionable trait, it could reappear in the crias. When I look at my herd, the resemblance of the crias to their parents is clear.Some, if you'll pardon the phrase, are the 'spitting image,' even in temperament. If you're purchasing a breeding herdsire, examine their offspring closely and find out from the Alpaca Registry, how many cria they have produced.
How many animals and how old?
How many females and males do you want to start with? Are they going to be crias or adults? It's usually more expensive to purchase an adult than a cria.Many owners are thrilled to be able to bond to a cria and watch the growth process unfold at such close range. At Lanark*, we believe that a balance of adult and cria purchases is necessary to create a good breeding program.It will also enable you to stretch your budget a bit further. One of my best cria purchases is now my herdsire, and I would never have been able to afford him it I had tried to acquire him as an adult.
Leasing vs. Owning
Another option to consider is leasing a herdsire versus purchasing one. Leasing allows you to capitalize on someone else's success. Leasing a breeding male bridges the gap between junior herdsire's sexual maturation and a female's impregnation. In addition to adding to the herd quality, there are good financial advantages in leasing. Many times, the leasor can make money by taking outside breedings to the leased male. In addition, leasing a breeding male entitles one to write off the cost of the lease that year, whereas the purchase price of a breeding male is depreciated during a five to ten year period, depending on the philosophy of your accountant. You can refer to my article, "Leasing A Stud," in the spring 1993 issue of Alpacas magazine for more information on the subject of leasing.
The Contract
The contract is a safeguard for both the purchaser and the seller. A whole article could be written concerning this topic and so I will only touch on the most significant points. You should also have a lawyer look at any contract you plan before you sign it. Specifics that should be included in a contract are as follows:
In many cases, contracts are personally tailored. There are often special concessions that both parties agree to. These items should be written right into the contract and not left as only verbal agreements. Above all, when in doubt about anything in your contract, it's advisable to contact your attorney.
When planning your alpaca purchase, leave no field unexplored and no alpaca untouched. Be persistent in your pursuit of the admirable alpaca; lay a strong foundation of quality animals, and you will build the herd of your dreams.
*copyright Antionette Brewster. Antionette Brewster is the owner of Lanark's Llamas and Alpacas. This article reprinted with her permission.
Kate Perez, info@mountairyalpacas.com
Webmaster of MountAiryAlpacas.com
last revised May 13, 2008
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