Farbrook Alpacas

In this section I want to try to give you some advice that will make your move into alpaca ownership as easy and successful as possible. I’m assuming you've already read our introduction to alpacas (see here), and our arguments in favour of alpaca ownership (see here). You have probably also decided whether your alpaca venture is for pleasure or for profit, and have an idea of roughly how many alpacas your land will support (see here). Good preparation and planning will ensure you get the best from your new venture. Some of the following may not apply to you but these, in general, are the things that you should consider.

Costs of ownership
Whilst Alpacas are expensive to buy they are fortunately very economical to keep. Nonetheless you should budget for the following costs.

Feed. The following are over-winter rates for an average pregnant female. Non-working males and empty females will need less, if any, supplementary feeding. During summer months most of the herd will thrive on grass alone.

Supplementary feed: around £5 per head per month
Hay: about one small bale at around £1.50 per head per month

Routine worming and prophylaxis. Less than £5 per head per year assuming you do it yourself, add about £20 per head per year if you wish your vet to do this.
Shearing and teeth work: say £15 per head per year.
Insurance. In time you may become comfortable with operating without mortality and theft insurance - indeed probably most breeders carry very little livestock insurance. For a start-up herd however I highly recommend insuring at least your most valuable alpacas, this should be available at an annual premium of around three to four per cent of value.
Routine maintenance of your pastures. Whilst this is not a major cost, some allowance should be made for fertilisation, cleaning, reseeding, etc..
Mating fees (breeding herds only). Fees vary depending on the stud male’s quality and the number of services bought. Typical fees range between £200 and £1000 per mating.

Resources for your business.
If you are planning an alpaca business, the most important resources you will bring to it are your own time, interest, imagination, and enthusiasm. The most successful breeders in terms of show results are always those who are very careful about their breeding decisions and invest wisely in their use of stud males. Having a good product for sale is not sufficient to make good profits however. You will need to become visible in the marketplace, and develop imaginative and useful strategies for marketing and promotion. If these sorts of demands appeal to you, or play to your existing strengths, you will do very well in this young industry.

Other than the initial purchase of your Alpacas, capital requirement is low. At some stage you may need to consider buying a trailer for transporting your alpacas (to mating for example, or to new owners), though in the early days you will likely find your way around this by either borrowing, renting, or sharing a trailer with others (note: if this is a subject you are not familiar with, you would be well advised to discuss the suitability of your car for towing with a professional before investing in a trailer). The tools of your new trade (foot shears, needles, syringes, cleansing spray, drench gun, etc.) will cost around £50, and you would be well advised to invest in one or two of the excellent introductory books to alpaca ownership and husbandry (see Resources). If you don't have any shelter you'll have to make provision for field shelters (see Resources).

A business plan is essential. We can help you with many aspects of your business plan (see Our Services), however there is no substitute for impartial and professional business advice from an agricultural specialist. This is particularly important if you will be seeking a loan to launch your business.
Grants. There are numerous grant schemes that potentially cover start-up or diversification into an alpaca breeding business. Applications are understandably competitive and can be long-winded. However the potential exists for considerable grant-aided support and this should not be overlooked in your business planning.
Tax relief. If you have another income the possibilities for tax relief are sizeable. Unless you are already a specialist in this area you will need the services of an agriculturally-specialist accountant. We can put you in touch with one who also understands the alpaca business.

Great! That’s the financial part out of the way, now on to the much more exciting business of finding your Alpacas!

Take an ‘Introduction to Alpacas’ course (see Our Services). These are always great fun: you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people enjoying themselves learning about alpacas, and are an excellent way of easing yourself into the world of distinguishing between alpacas. You could also take a combined Introduction and Husbandry course which will give you some of the hands-on skill you will need once your alpacas arrive. Before signing-up for your course ensure it includes a module on ‘alpaca selection’.

Join the British Alpaca Society (BAS). This will give you access to a wide range of information and advice, and their quarterly magazine ‘Alpaca’. Buy a subscription to the excellent ‘Alpaca World’ magazine: an invaluable source of information on what’s going on in the industry today.

Next you will need to practice what you’ve learned. Visit as many breeders as you can and handle alpacas whenever the opportunity arises. When you’re talking to a breeder about his or her alpacas, ask the breeder to explain the strengths and weaknesses of each alpaca shown to you. Remember that conformation is almost as important as fleece, and always check the alpaca’s breeding history for problems (abortions, multiple births, and stillbirths). Good breeders should always be honest with you about their alpacas as this is the beginning of a long relationship that does not begin and end with a sale. If you are not comfortable that the breeder is responsible and open then move on! It’s important to remember that the absolutely 'perfect' alpaca just does not exist, thus all alpacas you see will have both strengths and weaknesses. What is important is that you choose alpacas that suit your aims and that the weaknesses exhibited are reflected in the price.

Price variation
There are many factors that affect price. In absolute terms an alpaca that exhibits good qualities (e.g. high-density, consistency, and fine fleece) will command a higher price than one that doesn’t. An alpaca whose blood lines or progeny all exhibit similar qualities is worth much more as this indicates genetic stability in these areas. Proven alpacas (i.e. those with existing progeny) are worth more than those who have yet to produce. Younger females will be more expensive than older as they have a longer breeding future. It is probably fair to say that the largest breeders are able to charge a premium for their animals thus savings can be made by buying from small breeders – though this will have to be offset against what will inevitably be a narrower range from which to choose.

Savings can be made by buying unproven young alpacas (less than 18 months old). But remember this has its risks. Quality is difficult to assess: young fleeces tend to be the finest in the alpaca’s lifetime so the fleece may well ‘blow out’ with the passing years. And, worse, the alpaca might not be capable of breeding. Auctions can be opportunities to pick up the occasional bargain but are strictly for those with the experience to know what they are bidding on: don’t go down this route unless you secure the services of an experienced advisor (see Our Services). In general it’s wise when starting out to take as few risks as possible: buy alpacas with an established breeding history from a reputable breeder.

The best way to save money is to buy a group of alpacas. Almost all breeders will give healthy discounts on the purchase of multiple animals. Again this underscores the importance of selecting the right breeder who can supply you with the alpacas you want at a price that is right for you (see Sales).

Security
Avoid buying alpacas that are not registered with the BAS. Alpacas registered with the BAS have proven bloodlines and all imported animals will have been screened for genetic defects. All BAS-registered alpacas are microchipped and will come with proof of ownership and pedigree. There is currently no evidence of alpaca theft being a problem in the UK, nonetheless if you are offered alpacas with no proof of ownership you should report the circumstances to the BAS immediately.

Breeders
It is essential that by the time you make your purchase you are comfortable with the language of alpaca differentiation and can appreciate qualities and weaknesses when they are pointed out to you. If you make notes and take photographs you will find this helps enormously when you are trying to decide between two alpacas not seen on the same day. But no matter how much work and effort you put in at this stage it is very unlikely that you will be sufficiently au fait with alpacas to be able to make the final decision unaided. You will rely heavily on the advice of the breeders you talk to so you must do sufficient looking around to have confidence in the breeder you eventually choose: if you don’t trust the breeder you should not bother with his alpacas no matter how good they may seem.

Before striking a deal with your breeder you should be absolutely sure what is included in the deal in terms of guarantees, rematings, backup services, support, delivery, etc. You can see what we provide as standard here, this will give you a guide as to what should be discussed. Remember though, just because a breeder offers less than we do doesn’t mean the deal is poor but the difference should be reflected in the price.