Following up on both Mary's and Steve's good comments:
Mary: "It is the older alpaca or the alpaca who has not met the criteria
for being a fiber animal that gets eaten first." I'm sure this is the case,
but (as I understand it - I'm not personally knowledgeable in this area) the
number of alpacas that die of old age is relatively few. In this country we
seem to believe that even poor fiber animals should be kept and allowed to
"retire" in peace in our pastures. That is a great model for a pet
industry, but it isn't a working model for a livestock industry.
Steve: "What is amazing though, is that in the country they come from,
they are eaten, and in this country, they are worth thousands of dollars."
I don't know about your area, but in this area it is hard to even give away
fiber boys. All the sanctuaries are full and not accepting more, and most
farms have more fiber boys than they want to continue to feed with $20/bale
hay. If you have an animal that you can't give away, it doesn't matter what
the price of a prime breeding animal is, the animal you are deciding to cull
is effectively worth $0 other than for their meat. (If you are paying more
for shearing than you are getting for the fleece, you are subsidizing even
the one product you hope to be able to sell.)
I want to think that, just as in the horse and cow
industries, there will always be some animals that are worth 6 figures or
more. I personally believe, that just like in those industries, the number
that will command those values will be very few and far between. I think it
is very likely that we are approaching the days of $1000 dams, $500 sires,
and $50 fiber boys (and maybe I'm guessing a bit high). The longer we can
put off getting there the better, but I don't see this economy turning
around and people's personal finances getting comfortable enough for them to
run out and spend 5 figures each on several alpacas just to get into the
business, at least not very soon. Several alpaca auctions recently have
had no bids on several of their animals - not even $50 - for animals
portrayed as top quality alpacas.
Ok, I'll shut up again for awhile. I've probably upset a lot of people with
my comments. Please accept that it isn't my intent to offend anyone, just
to look at what I perceive the reality of the situation to be.
Don Stanwyck
Carnation, WA
From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of Mary Meacher
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 12:15 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Re: [Alpaca meat
Just a little clarification on alpaca meat in Peru and other south
american countries that raise these critters. It just isn't ANY
alpaca that gets eaten. Their fiber is as valued there, maybe even
more so than it is here. It is the older alpaca or the alpaca who
has not met the criteria for being a fiber animal that gets eaten
first. You won't see many appaloosa alpacas in SA, and they may not
be older, but the solid fiber animals, the ones that continually
produce the best offspring and the best and largest amount of fiber
won't be seeing the dinner table any time soon. Guinea pig is more
of a main stay than the fiber alpaca.
Mary Meacher
Walnut Valley Alpacas
--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:AlpacaTalk%40yahoogroups.com> ,
Steve <bntruble@...> wrote:
>
> Just to add my two cents to the discussion, we also raise meat
goats here on the farm. We know, someday the cute kid who runs and
bounces through the pasture may at some point someones meal
someday. Livestock seams to run full circle this way. Fact of
life. What is amazing though, is that in the country they come
from, they are eaten, and in this country, they are worth thousands
of dollars. Seems kinds silly when you really sit and think about
it. LOL... Can see the conversation over the dinner table
now..."This main course cost us about $500.00"... Just kidding...:-)
>
> Steve
> Simple CriaTions Alpaca Ranch
>
> On Oct 31, 2008, at 1:48 PM, "Don Stanwyck" <don@...> wrote:
>
> Linda:
>
> Why do you think that people who humanely slaughter their alpacas
for meat
> are evil? This is the normal end of all alpacas in South America
and, by
> many estimates, the expected result in the very near future in
this country.
> While we have not yet slaughtered any of ours for meat, I have to
admit that
> the day may come when we decide to make the same decision.
>
> Alpacas are livestock raised for fleece, pelt, and meat. If you
choose not
> to participate in some parts of this livestock business, please
don't
> condemn those who choose to make full use of their alpacas.
That's like
> saying a cow is only good for milk (have you ever asked what
happens to
> little boy dairy cows?). Some day that person you are condemning
for
> choosing to eat their alpacas might be me. I know a lot of llama
farmers
> who routinely fill their freezer from their own herds, and yes, I
know some
> alpaca farmers who do it as well. It is a choice they have the
right to
> make.
>
> Don Stanwyck
>
> Carnation, WA
>
> From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:AlpacaTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
[mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:AlpacaTalk%40yahoogroups.com> ]
On
> Behalf Of gogolfarm
> Sent: Friday, October 31, 2008 7:56 AM
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com <mailto:AlpacaTalk%40yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Alpaca meat
>
> A farm in IL was given an alpaca. This animal was slaughtered, and
> ended up in their freezer. Be VERY careful in dealing with North
of the
> Rock Alpacas. Linda
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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