[Alpacasite] Re: Alpaca vs. llama prices - Attn: Susan Gawarecki

Gary Epp wrote:

<<Your math is correct if you base it on your
erroneous assumption. If you don't believe there is
money to be made in fleece, my advice is stick with
old style llamas that produce NO renewable product of
any value.
<snip>
Possibly but since there is historical data about the
llama industry where the fleece animals have retained
value while the "old style" with no renewable valuable
fleece are given away as pets, we should expect
something similar in the alpaca business.>>

Actually, llamas of all fleece types are being given
away; this is why there is need for a llama rescue.
Despite the hype over heavy wool llamas, most of the
fleece isn't appropriately harvested, much less
marketed. There's a big status factor in taking a
heavy wool championship. The animal is given a show
cut which is touched up before every show--it never
gets a chance to produce significant fleece on the
barrel. Half-inch hairs aren't worth bothering with.
Apparently, neither are heavy wool animals that can't
produce ribbons in the ring. They get dumped at
auction all the time.

As far as more classic light wool animals, in general
they don't command as much money, but in parts of the
country they are in high demand as sheep or goat
guardians or pack animals. An animal that can
significantly cut losses to livestock from canines has
a measurable annual worth.

And some of these llama outfitters are making
excellent money "fleecing" the tourists for lunch
hikes into the mountains at $75 per person leading a
llama per day. Let's see, if you book lunch trips 30
weekends a year (60 trips total) a classic light wool
packer that can carry 80 lbs can make its owner $4500
(gross) a year. Not too shabby, and a fine use for
that classic light-wool gelding indeed. Not to
mention the longer multi-day camping trips that many
outfitters offer at considerably higher daily rates.

After sampling a few websites, this is what I see the
per person rates range from:

Lunch hike (all day): $65 - $79
Overnight: $180 - $250
Multi-day per day: $125 - $180

The nature of the llama industry is changing, it had
to change as it went from a livestock investment
industry to a regular livestock industry (although the
suri llama breeders are doing their best to re-invent
the investment industry). I think the alpaca industry
has to be prepared for similar readjustments. Having
a vision is fine, but ultimately you will be cashing
that reality check.

Susan Gawarecki
Pathfinder Farm
Andersonville, TN

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