Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Friday, January 28, 2011

Re: OT Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: alfalfa hay

 

I did the same thing, Wayne!  Diet ONLY, anything you normally buy.  The only difference is I switched from using Stevia or Sweet n' Low to honey in my tea and coffee and I can just about eat anything I want, not exercise and not get too much heavier.  It DOES work!   : )
 
SUSAN OLSON
Alpaca Loco
Riverside, CA
http://www.openherd.com/FarmPage.aspx?Farm=433

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 10:46 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: pine boughs

 

Thanks, Dani.  Its too funny what these animals do - one of my horses when living in pasture, used to pick up dead branches and drag them straight at the yearlings to make them spook and run.  Then I SWEAR, he'd sit back and laugh at them.  : )
 
I think we do have the ponderosa pine, although it is really hard to tell them all apart.  I don't want to take a chance, thanks for sending that picture!
 
SUSAN OLSON
Alpaca Loco
Riverside, CA
http://www.openherd.com/FarmPage.aspx?Farm=433
 
------
 
The boys have been known to pick them up and drag them (as does our great pyr) -- though I haven't caught them at it (I want a picture!).

Cheers,

Dani

Dani McKenzie & Hovey Moore
Longbottom Meadows

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 10:32 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Sweetheart Special!

 

Valentine's Day is upon us once again. Roses never last and chocolate is fattening. Instead, we are offering a deal that keeps giving for years to come!

For the month of February, Dragonfly Alpacas is offering a 10% discount on any Suri alpaca on the farm! Visit our web site and take your pick and surprise your sweetheart with one of these beauties.

www.dragonflyalpacas.com

This does NOT apply to any package deals.

Roger and Dede Crout
Dragonfly Alpacas, LLC
Marydel, MD
www.dragonflyalpacas.com

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 5:06 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Sweetheart Special!

 

Valentine's Day is upon us once again. Roses never last and chocolate is fattening. Instead, we are offering a deal will keep giving and giving for years to come!

For the month of February, Dragonfly Alpacas is offering a 10% discount on any Suri alpaca on the farm! Visit our web site and take your pick and surprise your sweetheart with one of these beauties.

www.dragonflyalpacas.com

This does NOT apply to any package deals.

Roger and Dede Crout
Dragonfly Alpacas, LLC
Marydel, MD
www.dragonflyalpacas.com

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 4:49 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] RE: corn/beet pulp

 

I also bought alfalfa pellets from the feed store to supplement when we discovered that our hay was crap, but we didn't want to feed extra alpaca pellets since they would then get too much vitamins and minerals. Some of them ate them ok, but I also usually had to moisten them and let them sit overnight. It was a pain, and I wish they'd mill them in the smaller size pellets. But we've found that the dairy grade alfalfa hay is actually easier to feed, since we just break up a flake per hay box and fluff it up really well so everyone can get some.



Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece





On Jan 28, 2011, at 7:46 AM, jelizabethfarms1@bellsouth.net wrote:

Heather>>>

I have long envied you your custom feed! You say your mom had it 
formulated with just enough grain to get the alfalfa to hold together in 
a pellet. I tried alfalfa pellets a year or so ago but they were too 
large and my pacas rejected them. I also tried alfalfa chunks and 
about half my guys rejected that as well. I am now considered the 
alflafa pellets again and perhaps soaking them. Or Tractor Supply now 
carries a chopped alfalfa hay which is what I have been thinking about 
using. But it will be messy and difficult to store out of their reach 
and out of the reach of all the other critters. The pellets in a bag I 
can keep in the dead chest freezer I use for feed storage.

I can't get a steady source of decent orchard grass around here. That 
is what I started out using when I got my first alpacas as that is what 
I read was the preferred hay. But the only guy around here that grows 
it ripped me off 3x in a row (I was a newbie) and I will not do business 
with him. I know there is controversy about feeding bermuda, but that 
is what I have been feeding for years. For simplification I had to 
find a hay that would work for both the horses and alpacas. There is 
also a lot of controversy about feeding bermuda to horses....sigh. I 
could feed them much cheaper fescue, but then I would have to keep 
something different for the alpacas and it just got too complicated. 
So now I just have about 8 round bales delivered at a time and that can 
feed it to both and move it around when one runs out before the other. 
I have been doing this for at least 5 yrs and they all seem to be doing 
great.

I truthfully cannot even remember why I started the beet pulp and likely 
will let it go when spring gets here. I know it helps the dogs a lot - 
I can tell a difference in their stool and their coat; and I know it is 
good for the elderly horses. We were already using it for the horses 
when folks here started talking about giving it to their alpacas so it 
was easy enough to add to their feed. Now I recall - it was because it 
helped keep the additives I was using - flax seed, minerals, de, on the 
feed rather than at the bottom of the feeding tray going to waste. I 
no longer top dress their pellets with any of these additives - no 
reason, just got out of the habit.

Janice



__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 2:08 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Snark

 

After paying for a certified sorter $15 per fleece, $3 per pound plus shipping isn't paying you anything, and is more than likely costing you money.


As Margaret said, always do the math.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece





On Jan 28, 2011, at 11:08 AM, Laura A. Roberts wrote:

 

I have to agree. I send my fleece to different mini mills and have
roving, yarn and felt made for resale, but I personally know people who have
YEARS of yarn sitting in their barn. I would think getting rid of it would
be a distinct advantage over sitting on it year after year.

I only have 20 alpacas and was so relieved to drop off the last of
my fiber to the mill a few weeks ago. If and when the time comes I don't
need it processed for resale, I might just take someone up on an offer of $3
lb. Not much, but more than zero, imho.

Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
Spotsylvania, VA


__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 1:51 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Snark

 

Jennifer, 

They are free to offer whatever they wish, I just happen to think that we, the growers, should not have to go in the hole to provide fleece to them so they can make a killing on their finished product.

We are all entitled to our opinions, and this is mine, and shared by quite a few other people.


Heather

Heather Zeleny
White Lotus Alpacas
Oregon

Holistic Farm and Elite Fleece





On Jan 28, 2011, at 10:29 AM, aeroranch wrote:

 

Here is what I don't understand,
someone out there is working a model to buy fleece and produce a product. They are forthright about their payment structure and requirements. Instead of being praised for actually DOING IT they are maligned. I don't get this.

Don't like the structure? Great, don't sell them your fleeces. Don't like their product? Great, don't buy them.

But the fact is they ARE buying fleeces which is a tremendous start. And for some a bit of cash flow from their fleeces is a positive thing.

There is a constant hue and cry that a fleece market is a must. But when some one takes that step, invests in the infrastructure to produce a product and then offers to buy fleeces there is a whine about it being at a low price. Guess what, THIS is what the range is when we are talking commodity pricing. Will I be sending them our fleeces? Nope. I will however praise them for actually making something happen. More power to them!

Blue Skies
Jennifer Powers
Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
Browns Valley CA


__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Find useful articles and helpful tips on living with Fibromyalgia. Visit the Fibromyalgia Zone today!

.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 1:50 PM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

RE: [AlpacaTalk] Snark

 

I have to agree. I send my fleece to different mini mills and have
roving, yarn and felt made for resale, but I personally know people who have
YEARS of yarn sitting in their barn. I would think getting rid of it would
be a distinct advantage over sitting on it year after year.

I only have 20 alpacas and was so relieved to drop off the last of
my fiber to the mill a few weeks ago. If and when the time comes I don't
need it processed for resale, I might just take someone up on an offer of $3
lb. Not much, but more than zero, imho.

Laura Roberts
R Half Pint Farm
Spotsylvania, VA


-----Original Message-----
From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of aeroranch
Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 1:29 PM
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Snark

Here is what I don't understand,
someone out there is working a model to buy fleece and produce a product.
They are forthright about their payment structure and requirements. Instead
of being praised for actually DOING IT they are maligned. I don't get this.

Don't like the structure? Great, don't sell them your fleeces. Don't like
their product? Great, don't buy them.

But the fact is they ARE buying fleeces which is a tremendous start. And for
some a bit of cash flow from their fleeces is a positive thing.

There is a constant hue and cry that a fleece market is a must. But when
some one takes that step, invests in the infrastructure to produce a product
and then offers to buy fleeces there is a whine about it being at a low
price. Guess what, THIS is what the range is when we are talking commodity
pricing. Will I be sending them our fleeces? Nope. I will however praise
them for actually making something happen. More power to them!

Blue Skies
Jennifer Powers
Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
Browns Valley CA

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 11:08 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Re: Re: snarky post [1 Attachment]

 
[Attachment(s) from Purplpig included below]

Keep seeing this subject line and all I can think is, "Wasn't she in
Night Court?"

Keep smiling!

Lysa Grant
Pocopaca in the Poconos
Jim Thorpe, PA

On Jan 28, 2011, at 10:58 AM, Rebecca Wells wrote:

> Forgot my signature ....
>
>
> Rebecca Wells
> Alpacadero Alpacas
> Seattle, WA
> http://alpacadero.com
> (206) 406-8595
>
>
> On Jan 28, 2011, at 7:58 AM, Rebecca Wells wrote:
>
>> Yeah, I thought about that too. And did you check the prices they
>> are selling it for? Yikes! They do have some good ideas for using
>> 2nds though.
>>
>>
>>> Did everyone see that eBlast from the people who want to buy your
>>> fleeces, minimum 3.5", and sorted, grades 1-4, for UP TO $3 a POUND?
>>>
>>> For crying out loud, I hope no one falls for this. Getting a fleece
>>> sorted is at least $15 per fleece, and cost of shearing, and
>>> shipping... I think you'd lose money on this deal. Much better to
>>> send it to a local mini mill and have it spun to sell.
>>>
>>> Heather
>>>
>>> Heather Zeleny
>>
>>
>> Jim, here is a mill close to you: Dawn's Custom Carding in Roy, WA.
>> http://www.dawnscustomcarding.com/
>>
>>
>>> I would like to find a mill close to home to have my fleece spun.
>>>
>>> Jim Guerin
>>> Yelm, WA
>
>
>

__._,_.___

Attachment(s) from Purplpig

1 of 1 File(s)

RGA-logo-redgear-sm.jpg
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 11:06 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Snark

 

Here is what I don't understand,
someone out there is working a model to buy fleece and produce a product. They are forthright about their payment structure and requirements. Instead of being praised for actually DOING IT they are maligned. I don't get this.

Don't like the structure? Great, don't sell them your fleeces. Don't like their product? Great, don't buy them.

But the fact is they ARE buying fleeces which is a tremendous start. And for some a bit of cash flow from their fleeces is a positive thing.

There is a constant hue and cry that a fleece market is a must. But when some one takes that step, invests in the infrastructure to produce a product and then offers to buy fleeces there is a whine about it being at a low price. Guess what, THIS is what the range is when we are talking commodity pricing. Will I be sending them our fleeces? Nope. I will however praise them for actually making something happen. More power to them!

Blue Skies
Jennifer Powers
Aero Ranch Suri Alpacas
Browns Valley CA

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 10:29 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] BagSmith snarky post

 

Hi all, the WORST part about all this is what Bagsmith charges for *their* finished products!  I have been aware of this Ohio-based company for several years, as I know they take Suri locks that are longer than 6".  Their BigStitch Bump yarn is $120 at 40 oz and 125 yards.  And I know for a fact that this is *minimally* processed... so I'm really not sure where they get such an outlandish price, especially with the pitance they are offering us alpaca breeders.... Let the seller beware!
 
Peace and blessings,
Pia
Best regards,
 
Pia M. Al-Ubaidi, Owner
Fiori del Campo Suri Alpacas, Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Fiber Sorting and Grading Services
  • Fiber Arts Instruction
  • Artisanal Yarn and Garments
www.fioridelcampo.com
 Join us on Facebook - search Pia Masotta Al-Ubaidi

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
MARKETPLACE

Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 10:17 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] Re: alfalfa hay

 

Susan -- mine will nibble on cedar needles (we have fir, lodgepole pine, and cedar up in my neck of the PNW), but not as much as the fir or pine. I think the cedar oils probably don't taste good.

wikipedia has some decent pictures of ponderosa pine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinus_ponderosa

The boys have been known to pick them up and drag them (as does our great pyr) -- though I haven't caught them at it (I want a picture!).

Cheers,

Dani

Dani McKenzie & Hovey Moore
Longbottom Meadows
Roy, WA
360-400-0348
http://www.longbottommeadows.com/

--- In AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com, barngirrl@... wrote:
>
>
>
> Does anyone know if cedar branches or other types of pine besides ponderosa
> are harmful to alpacas? That is a great idea, Dani we have lots of pine
> trees here that need to be trimmed but I don't know what type they are -
> I'll have to find out before feeding it to the alpacas.
>
> SUSAN OLSON
> Alpaca Loco
> Riverside, CA
> _http://www.openherd.com/FarmPage.aspx?Farm=433_
> (http://www.openherd.com/FarmPage.aspx?Farm=433)
>
> =============================
>
> In a message dated 1/26/2011 8:31:22 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> edana_mckenzie@... writes:
>
> Especially since our pastures are miniscule to the altaplano. Giving them
> different hay, pine tree branches (they love the needles, just make sure
> it's not ponderosa pine), or other treats will help their attitude.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Dani
>
> Dani McKenzie & Hovey Moore
> Longbottom Meadows
> Roy, WA 98580
> www.longbottommeadows.com
>

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 9:53 AM 0 comments

Free Alpacas Newsletter- How to Profit from Alpaca Farming

[AlpacaTalk] RE: Monsanto

 

<<< Please do, write to the President and to your state senators and
representatives, do not let Monsanto take control of our agriculture!

Heather>>>

I fear they already have Heather. I have no hope whatsoever that they
can be stopped. It is too late to close the barn door. As a
beekeeper and organic grower I have been fighting this battle far too
long - to no avail whatsoever. The companies that provide organic and
non GMO seed are saying this year that they can no longer guarantee
their seeds are not contaminated. No one can.

Just this morning before I woke up I was having a dream in which
Michelle was saying to Barack - but we won't feed this to our children
(GM crops) why/how can you let it become national policy and allow it to
spread....now to livestock - which we will be eating as well. He just
shrugged his shoulders and said "dear, it is politics; bigger than the
both of us". Then I woke up.

Monsanto was thrilled when George W backed ethanol and all the
uninformed tree huggers celebrated - not realizing that ethanol takes
more water and more energy to produce than gasoline does (and water is
the looming disaster for our world); but Monsanto was thrilled! Sell
more corn - YEAH. Monsanto and the fed gov't are in each other's back
pocket - sharing main players who move back and forth between the 2
employers.

Janice, yep I'm bitter - Monsanto is killing the bees and other
pollinators with their poison GM crops, which in turn will kill us all

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
Message posts are the opinion of individuals posting and are not necessarily endorsed or approved by Yahoo! or the moderator of this group. The purpose of this discussion group is to ensure that all points of view can be aired. It is the responsibility of all individuals who post to treat others with respect and civility.
.

__,_._,___

posted by Chaddo at 9:09 AM 0 comments