[Alpacasite] Re: Llama in car... Renamed 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, through your snowballs!

Janet Hufford

Dream Chaser Alpacas

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