[Alpacasite] A Delicate Question

Well said Ian.

I would like to add that the "lamb chop" market is made up of fairly
young
wethers which have been determined to be less than "ideal" or are
raised for
just such a purpose. Mutton comes from older animals culled from a
flock.
Your steak probably isn't from a young cow or bull, it is from an
older animal
- again culled or bred for purpose. The same with veal, pork, turkey
and
chicken. I know this is distasteful to most alpaca owners, but this
is a
livestock business. And we need to treat it as such. We are not
raising
exotics - at least I am not. Currently, we raise our alpacas for
fiber,
showing, and marketing; but, I can see the need, in the future, to
diversify
their use. I was raised on a farm and we did not waste more than
necessary. We
were taught the animals were not pets...

Admittedly, the current price of these animals prohibit the notion of
utilizing
them for the food and pelt market, but should not be overlooked when
the prices
become comparable to other livestock or even for their unplanned for
deaths.
The beef and veal, mutton and lamb, goat, pork, and fowl, etc which
make up a
large part of the public's diet are animals culled for defect,
limited usage, or
raised for purpose. Many small farms/ranches raise animals for their
private
use. And, for those not opposed to hunting, even deer, elk, wild
fowl, rabbit,
etc. are used to supplement the diet. And, admitedly, the alpaca is
similar to
deer, elk, sheep, and goat in musculature and habit. The circle of
life goes
on for farms and ranches all around the world, everyday. Pelts are
taken from
almost all of these animals to be used for the pelt or as leather.
Those that
do not want to be a part of this scenario, will not have to.....They
can
continue to raise alpacas for fiber, showring, and/or as pets. There
are many
farmers and ranchers of other livestock animals which do not utilize
their stock
for food, leather, or pelts.....I even know of one cattle rancher who
is a
vegan.....but what happens after he sells his animals.....he says it
is all a
part of life on the farm.

Okay, throw your snowballs!

Janet Hufford

Dream Chaser Alpacas

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