Re: [AlpacaTalk] Shows
Hey Folks,
This is why breeders need to look into and participate in the ARI EPD program. This is a scientific method that calculates the positive or negative genetic value of alpacas based on histograms and the farm entered data for fleece weights, birth weights etc of progeny, siblings, etc . Your alpaca doesn't need to have a single ribbon to be the most desirable alpaca to be marketable. In fact, EPDs will become much more valuable for making breeding decisions that will ribbons.
AlpacaAcademy.com has a bunch of EPD information posted there, and Darby Vannier ARI's Executive Director as well as Mike Safley are speaking at various shows around the country.
In addition, there is a genetics and reproductive technology conference in September in Houston where EPDs will also be discussed.
Laurel
The Shouvlins
Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936
www.bluebirdhills.com
bluebirdhills@voyager.net
> Jody, your assumption seems to be that the only people buying alpacas or
> who
> would be interested in your alpacas are people who show. That's
> absolutely not
> true. If you intend to market to the show crowd, that's one thing and
> yes,
> failure to succeed at shows would be a determining factor in a prospective
> buyer's decision. However, if your alpacas are not show quality, then
> your
> target market should not be show people but rather people who have a
> more
> traditional "commodity" mindset or people who have a specific interest in
> fiber-producing livestock. When you're writing your marketing material,
> keep in
> mind who your livestock is most apt to appeal to and direct your
> marketing
> toward that audience. For example, a traditional livestock farmer (dairy
> or
> wool or whatever) will find information about reproductive abilities
> (fertility
> or fecundity, production history) of far greater interest than
> whether the
> animal took awards at a show. That farmer will be more attracted to an
> alpaca
> whose progenitors have maintained fiber quality far into maturity than to
> an
> alpaca who took 26 championships as a yearling. You need to evaluate
> your herd
> for the qualities they HAVE, and market them accordingly. That doesn't
> mean
> that you can't breed for improvements, but unless you are one of the show
> crowd,
> the improvements you should focus on are improvements in commodity factors
> such
> as density, tensile strength and uniformity in fleece, and husbandry
> factors
> such as parasite resistance and ease of conception or impregnation.Â
> There are
> many people interested in alpacas who understand that success in the
> show ring
> for a couple of years does not guarantee the qualities necessary for an
> efficient and productive operation.
> Â
> Judith Korff
> LadySong Farm Bolivian Suri Alpacas
> Suri: Silk Without the WormRandolph, New York 14772Â
> Cell: (716) 499-0383
> www.alpacanation.com/ladysong.asp
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
>
From: Jody Ehler <Jody_Ehler@hotmail.com>
> To: alpacatalk@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tue, March 15, 2011 2:55:51 PM
> Subject: RE: [AlpacaTalk] Shows
>
> Â
> Jen
> Â
> I am a small farm and am really afraid to go to the shows just for that
> reason.Â
> If I attend shows and my animals bring home last place or not at all...how
> can I
> sell my animals to people who ask how well did they do or did you show?Â
> I have
> some really nice animals, but I can't justify paying the fees to show and
> then
> putting my animals in jeopardy of looking poorly to potential buyers
> because
> they showed poorly? I guess I am leaning more towards doing micron
> counts and
> using fiber samples more for selling my critters. Plus the stress
> they endure
> for the weekend? I will admit I enjoyed going to the shows and seeing
> these
> awesome alpacas! I just walked away thinking the shows are out of reach
> for my
> herd....UNLESS some large farm would lease one of their awesome males to
> my
> girls for a summer out of the goodness of their hearts??? LOL....maybe a
> TV series on "Champions for the  underdog girls!!! Just a thought!Â
> Otherwise I
> too feel it is a show for the big boys. :) I do see many shows
> everywhere
> though and I am sure the big farms don't attend ALL the shows?? Maybe
> there
> could be shows designed for different categories relating to farm size?Â
> Like
> "Newbie Shows"!
> Â
> We have to remember this is how the world works!  The more you can put
> into
> something the more you get back.....hopefully!! There are some pretty
> awesome
> alpacas out there, but unfortunately most of us can't improve our herds
> due to
> the high breeding fees from these big boys. I would like to see all our
> alpacas
> eventually have these tremendous fiber stats just to improve our fiber
> production outlook! We all are striving for the best fiber for our
> industry?Â
> It's hard for small farms to sell their not so awesome fibered animals
> unless
> going to persons wanting two or three for pets.  I am coming to the
> reality
> that not all my animals are top notch.....using humor.... and so am
> trying to
> find homes for the ones with out good fiber traits and saving up for
> replacing
> them with awesome fiber.  Any hoo! Even though I think I have some
> great
> animals, I just don't want to make them look poorly and have them get a
> complex
> about themselves by taking them to the shows!! LOLÂ
>
> Â
> Take care!
> Jody
> Â
>
> Jody Ehler
> Solon, IA 52333
> J & J Alpacas
> Check out our adorable alpacas!
> www.jandjalpacas.com
>
> Â
>
> Â
>
>
>
> Â
>
> Â
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Â
>
> ________________________________
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
>
From: jenford13@gmail.com
> Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:15:25 +0000
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Shows
>
> Â
> Hi folks,
> I'd like to initiate a discussion on the subject of alpaca shows.
> At the outset, let me state quite emphatically that I have all the
> admiration in
> the world for large farms. I acknowledge and celebrate their contributions
> to
> the alpaca industry, veterinary research, and the show system. I've bought
> alpacas from large farms and count those breeders among my friends. So, no
> vitriol against big farms, just some musings on the challenges of stepping
> into
> the ring with them.
>
>
> I've just returned from yet another show at which two or three farms
> walked away
> with the lion's share of blue ribbons and purple banners. Their animals
> absolutely deserved hope to win, they were wonderful examples of the
> breed. But
> how in the world can the rest of us hope to compete against folks with the
> means
> to position themselves to win almost every time they enter the ring? The
> farm I
> came with won three 3rd place ribbons and the joke was "we actually took
> three
> 1st place ribbons amongst mere mortals." But how do you convey that to
> prospective customers without sounding like a ditz or launching into a
> dissertation on the realities of the showing? ("Third place is great,
> seriously!")
>
> Does anyone think that the time has come for shows at which participation
> is
> limited to breeders who own, say, a dozen or fewer breeding females?
> Obviously
> AOBA can't sanction shows that limit participation, but I think many of us
> are
> almost at the point where we don't care. As long as a show is
> well-organized and
> uses certified judges, just how much does it really matter if there's an
> AOBA
> logo on the ribbons?
> I've been showing for a decade, and remember when the playing field was
> pretty
> level, when you went to a show and could reasonably expect to walk away
> with a
> few wins. Not any more. One long-established breeder I spoke with summed
> it up
> this way: "I can no longer afford to spend $1,500 to compete for fourth
> place."
>
> Thoughts, ideas, feedback? (Please, no rotten tomatoes; I just want to
> start a
> discussion, not start a war!)
> Respectfully,
> Jen Ford
> Backstage Alpacas
> Bedford, PA
> www.backstagealapcas.com
>
>
>
>
posted by Chaddo at 6:05 PM
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