Comments for Profiting With Alpacas

Comment on Alpacas in Small Spaces… by Julie Roy

Julie Roy — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:54:59 +0000

Jackie, Good question about my alpaca location! My intention is not to confuse anyone about the corporate headquarters in NH with where I raise alpacas… which is in Calif. My joint venture partner lives in NH. If you are ever in southern CA, look me up and come for a visit.

Comment on Alpacas in Small Spaces… by Bill Bailey

Bill Bailey — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:54:22 +0000

Julie, my wife & I enjoy your helpful hints for starting
our own herd this past year. Thank you for caring about
everyone\’s best way to nuture / care for one\’s alpacas!
Bill & Maryann Bailey

Comment on Alpacas in Small Spaces… by Jackie

Jackie — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:06:45 +0000

I am confused–the sig line on your email newsletter has a NH address, yet here you mention you are in SoCal. Which is it?

Comment on Alpacas Are Green!! by Richard & Marjean Benton

Richard & Marjean Benton — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:33:05 +0000

We enjoyed reading your article about alpacas being compatible with green lifestyles. We recently acquired 4 wonderful alpacas, 2 males & 2 females, and we love them dearly. We also have 2 Great Pyrenees pups to live with them & guard them, which is working out very well. We all live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western NC on our 7 acres of paradise just outside Bakersville, which is about 10 miles from Tennessee. Thanks for sharing your knowledge & wisdom with us.

Comment on Are Alpacas a Craze or Fad??? by Julie Roy

Julie Roy — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:59:52 +0000

Hema you ask a good question. Here’s my point of view about getting into the alpaca market right now. 1. There is a fluctuation in the prices of alpacas now more than in past years. Farmers who are desperate – have reduced their prices drastically. However, those of us who are not desperate have been selling to each other, new breeders and at auctions for the standard prices. 2. Now is a great time to invest in alpacas and negotiate with sellers for value added benefits. 3. I still receive an average of 20 new sign-ups to my free newsletter every day. That tells me that there is still the interest in owning alpacas. 4. Since it takes about 3 – 5 years for your initial herd to reach a size where you could sell offspring, I feel that anybody who has an interest would be very smart to take advantage of the tax incentives and start now. The alpaca market will continue and the economic woes should be behind us by then.

Check with your personal accountant to see what other advantages there may be for your economic situation.

Hope that helped.

Julie

Comment on Are Alpacas a Craze or Fad??? by Hema

Hema — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:17:58 +0000

I enjoy getting your e-mails. I am concerned as I am researching this industry that with the economic woes our country is facing, that there aren’t going to be more people wanting to enter the alpaca ranching business. If fewer people start their own herds, then who will the established or new breeder/owner sell too? I have also heard of people in the midwest going bankrupt and giving away their herds or selling them for 2,000 to 5,000 dollars each.

I am considering becoming an alpaca owner/breeder but wonder if this isn’t the wrong time to take the market risk.

Please give me your thoughts.

Comment on Let Uncle Sam Buy Your First Alpacas by Julie Roy

Julie Roy — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:41:19 +0000

Chris you are right – this is a great time to get into alpacas and start a herd. Check with your local Agriculture Extension office for some helpful information about your area. They might know about grants to cover some of the initial costs of setting up your operation. Also, you can look at alpacas from local breeders. Most of them will help you out by financing your purchases (frequently at no interest) for a couple of years. That’s what we do with buyers of our alpacas.

Comment on Stability of Alpaca Market Values by Cheryl

Cheryl — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:46:52 +0000

Hi Julie,
Thank you for all your tips thay are great. We just adopted two males, one suri one huacaya – thay are palls and needed a home.
I can’t wait to grow. Its just the start up fee for the females. I have the time and love and 26 acres.

Comment on Let Uncle Sam Buy Your First Alpacas by Chris

Chris — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:41:31 +0000

Hello Julie Roy,

I have a real interest in alpaca’s and wish to acquire a small herd. With money tight and getting tighter I have looked into some different grants and how to write a grant propsal. It is really hard. From what stated above this is the best year to ask for a grant. Could you please point into the right direction or some helpful areas to start out with.

Comment on Let Uncle Sam Buy Your First Alpacas by Linda Carstensen

Linda Carstensen — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 22:08:45 +0000

Hi Julie,
Your information has been a tremendous help to me on starting my alpaca business. Talking to an accountant helped me to understand the benefits. I look forward to my new adventure, and strongly recommend your book for anyone starting out.