Monday, February 1, 2010

Raising Alpacas On A Budget

Alpaca breeding is a high dollar industry and unfortunately many small to medium sized farms are having a difficult time given the current economic difficulties. So, we're thinking.. what can we do to help out. Why would we want to help? Does the success of other farms affect us? Of course it does.

Everyone in this industry is relying on it's continued growth. When I say growth I mean primarily as a fiber industry (which it is) and also growth in terms of new breeders coming on board.

Beside the purchase of breeding males and females, the next big ticket item are breedings themselves. This is where cost sometimes affects good judgement. Good high quality breedings are not cheap but trying to save a few bucks and breeding to inferior males will be far more costly to a breeder in the long run! If you can't afford a high quality breeding then you're better off leaving your dam open for the season until next year.

As a breeder with focus on quality and improvement, we have only ever bred our dams to males with the genetics you expect for the several thousand dollars the breedings cost. The results have been very positive indeed!

So back to the original questions. We've answered 2 of them but how can we help. As a new direction to our breeding business we've decided to make 2 for 1 breedings a permanent  facet of our business. This will significantly reduce the costs for small farms on a budget and at the same time give them the quality they must have. We're still working out the details but basically: buy a breeding and get a "paid in full" receipt for a second breeding to the same or different male. The second breeding can be used immediately or any time within the next 12 months.

This year we've added 3 outstanding males to our herdsire program. These are males we will be breeding our own dams to as well. We also have several junior herdsires in our lineup for next season.

These are males with Accoyo genetics and have been sired by some of the best in the country! More to come...

cheers,

Newaukum Creek Alpacas

Ricaro - Accoyo America Triumph son (14 microns)
Pere Ubu - MSA Hemingway's Tequila son
LCA Kharuso - Snowmass Grand Marnier son

Friday, January 29, 2010

Alpaca Birthing Pictures Sequence

I've re-added the alpaca birthing pictures sequence. This is a sequence showing a textbook birth. It's good for new owners to have a good idea what to expect during an alpaca birth. Check it out HERE!

Oh, remember it's also a good idea to have a vet handy in case of complications.

cheers,

Newaukum Creek Alpacas

Alpaca Show Season and More










Show season is upon us again and the excitement is starting to build.
Our first show this season will be Alpacapalooza, first weekend in April, and we're still in the planning stages of which other shows to attend. Almost definitely AWE and CABA. We'll see what others.

Spring will be here soon and the busy time of year for all alpaca farms will begin. There's so much to do, but hey it's fun!

Alpaca shows, pasture maintainance, shearing and other odd jobs around the alpaca farm. Oh, don't forget about the best part, new alpaca cria arrivals. Yes, alpaca birthing season will also be upon us soon!

This is where the real rewards of raising alpacas comes from. Watching the new little alpacas getting to know one another and playing together. Nope, never moving back to the city!!!
 
cheers,

Newaukum Creek Alpacas