Re: [Alpacasite] Re: Getting more people into the alpaca business...

Heidi,

I am not a expert on breed standards, but what I look for is good conformation and crimp first and the micron count second in medium quality animals.

Genetics play a larger role in the high end animals...in my opinion.

I think we should breed only medium quality females who pass on the above. Males are another story, from our experience, many males carry the lions share of the genetics....not all...but many. It is for this reason that the males have to carry the good to great genetics.

All of our herdsirers have good to great genetics and ribbons to confirm this. We would not breed a low to medium quality male but instead would use the animal as a fiber animal....yes I said fiber....that's what it is all about....isn't it?

I hope I have answered your question.

We are not at all in favor on dumping poor quality animals on newbees...that would be unfair to them and would additionally harm the industry. But, not all animals sold have to be >$25k either.....we need balance in order to attract new ranches with modest incomes. This industry should not be a rich persons' playground....there's room for everyone at the alpaca table...again, in my opinion only.

Jim Patrick
Patricks' Pastures Alpaca Ranch & Habitat
3030 N. Trinity Rd.
Denton, TX 76208
940-323-1011 (Ranch Office)
214-505-0754 (Jim Patrick's Mobile)
patrickspastures@verizon.net
www.patrickspastures.com
----- Original Message -----
From: rchczc
To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 25, 2005 4:28 PM
Subject: [Alpacasite] Re: Getting more people into the alpaca business...

Hi Jim,

I basically agree with everything else you have to say - I has been
true in other animal endevours I've been involved with (the drop out
rate of owners, that is).

I highlighted the below for one question. How do we define low
quality. I don't want to turn this into yet another breed standard
arguement, but its still a valid question.

We have been talking about culling. I agree with the liberal
definition of the word - even Royal Fawn is a cull to the farm that
sold him (IMO).

To me, only a spectular male specimen should be bred. Should be true
with females also, but at this point in the game, where do you draw
the line? For instance, I have 4 girls that are conformationally
correct (as far as I can tell anyway, without a breed standard), but
they are course and have low annual yield. Sound like animals that
should be removed? Yes, until I mention they are all over the age of
12, and have spectacular babies when bred to the above mentioned
spectactular males. Now, should I really not breed them, in your
opinion?

I have seen your ads looking for medium quality females for starter
farms. You are far from alone in that endevour. I have purchased
from 2 farms, one with hundreds of animals, one with 20. Both have
told me selling modestly priced females bred to spectacular males (my
words there) to beginners is their niche.

Heidi Christensen
Graham WA

>
> WE SHOULD NOT BE BREEDING LOW QUALITY MALES OR FEMALES FOR
SURE...but we need to find homes for the medium quality females and
gelded males. The high end females and males seems to find their
place in the current market place with no problem and are doing so at
very high prices.
>
> The issue here is that if this industry is going to grow long term,
that we need more new farms and ranches. If we don't address this
issue, we could see a glut of alpacas at prices much lower than the
current prices or sent to animal auctions for disposal or worse.
>
> Your thoughts?
>
>
>
> Jim Patrick
> Patricks' Pastures Alpaca Ranch & Habitat
> 3030 N. Trinity Rd.
> Denton, TX 76208
> 940-323-1011 (Ranch Office)
> 214-505-0754 (Jim Patrick's Mobile)
> patrickspastures@v...
> www.patrickspastures.com
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: sldear2001
> To: Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Thursday, November 24, 2005 8:10 PM
> Subject: [Alpacasite] The llama song
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> I just listened to the song again.
> Still love it.
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