| Disclaimer |
RobAsia Alpaca Ranch LLC
The view's expressed here are those of Rob and Joanna. Others in the industry
may agree or disagree, but this is what we have learned and how we see it.
may agree or disagree, but this is what we have learned and how we see it.
| Pricing / Value |
It makes 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.
you cannot expect to by a low quality animal and immediately compete in the show
ring and command the highest prices for the offspring.
REMEMBER, ALL ALPACAS ARE NOT CREATED EQUAL!
Pet / Fiber (non-breeders): Free to $2000.
Females: $10,000 – 40,000 (sometimes higher)
Males (Herd Sires & Jr. Herd Sires):
- 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,
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.
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| Females |
| Males |
| Foundation |
| Herd Sires |
| Click on Symbol for Desired Page |
| 2009 Cria |
| 2008 Cria |