Every piece of farm work is also
an attempt to solve a problem,
and therefore it should have its
intellectual interest. It needs but
the informing of the mind and
the quickening of the imagination
to raise any constructive and
creative work above the level of
drudgery.

— Liberty Hyde Bailey, 1905
Area Under Construction
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Pricing / Value
The view's expressed here are those of Rob and Joanna. Others in
the industry may agree or disagree, but this is how we see it.
no sense (financial) to purchase an expensive animal as a pet. Likewise you cannot expect to
no sense (financial) to purchase an expensive animal as a pet. Likewise you cannot expect to
by a low quality animal and immediately compete in the show ring and command the highest
prices for the offspring.prices for the offspring.
Remember, all alpacas are not created equal!
Pet / Fiber (non-breeders): Free to $2000.
    This is how many new owners start, they want to get their feet wet and limit their
    investment while they figure out if they really want to dive into the business. This might be
    a good option, but most of the alpacas available at this price level would be non-breeders
    and priced accordingly. Non-breeder does not necessarily mean they have been “fixed”,
    just that you will not be able to register any offspring.
Females: $10,000 – 40,000 (sometimes higher)
    Unproven: short definition = not bred. Pricing should be lower when younger and
    depending how she develops the price will go up from there. Pricing at a young age
    mostly depends on quality of dam & sire and quality of their offspring to date. The longer
    you wait the more you know about the quality but the higher the price may go. Usually
    when purchasing an unproven female you will get a reproduction guarantee for the first
    offspring, what you will not know is if the dam will be a good mother or not.
    Proven: Pregnancy confirmed. First time mothers would still be a risk because your not
    sure about their mothering abilities and how well their offspring grow, but purchasing at
    this point guarantees you a cria within the next 11 months, most of the time worth the
    risk. Previously bred females with proven mothering abilities, offspring growth records
    and viewable offspring quality should be the least risk. Many times these females are
    packaged with one offspring on the ground and pregnant with the other. This is a very
    attractive way to begin your breeding program.
Males (Herd Sires & Jr. Herd Sires): In our opinion there is maybe 1 in 500 males born that
will be an exceptional herd sire. Most males, even if they have won show ring awards should
not be apart of your breeding program if you intend to improve your herd. Make sure you are
truly breeding your female to a better male. Dr. Evans claims that 30% of the females being
bred are actually being bred down.
    Purchased Breedings: $500 - $10,000. Confirmation, fleece, progeny, ancestry and
    awards are the cost drivers for the price of breeding fees. Jr. herd sires are generally
    less expensive because they have not been proven. As offspring hit the ground and if
    they do well, breeding fees will generally increase.
    Purchased Herd Sire or Jr. Herd Sire: $10,000 - $150,000+. Most small breeders
    cannot justify an exceptional herd sire with only a few of their own females to breed,
    outside breedings and their marketing can be a challenge. Many times partnerships in a
    male is a good option, that way justification is easier and risk is smaller. Having a
    marketable herd sire can provide income through out the year.