[AlpacaTalk] IDEAS ON GETTING FIBER PROCCESSED

 

your not alone,I wish it wan't so expense getting the fiber made into yarn and products Im sitting on alot of fiber but its been tough with my husband in and out of  a job do you have any ideas on how to get the fiber in to products,????????who do you use.???????any idea --- On Thu, 1/10/13, Jody Ehler <Jody_Ehler@hotmail.com> wrote: From: Jody Ehler <Jody_Ehler@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [AlpacaTalk] Alpacas...........beyond fiber To: alpacatalk@yahoogroups.com Date: Thursday, January 10, 2013, 12:10 PM   Laura   You make a good point about the alpaca and wanting to have it considered "livestock" for tax purposes.  I guess I was saying the lower prices on pet quality reflect what we would do if this livestock is unproductive for the farm.  I feel that the alpaca needs to move from the "exotic" label to the "common livestock" state to make them more productive in the fiber industry for their viable future.  Anything new is "exotic" until it becomes saturated or in high enough quantities to give it a strong economy or desirability in the community.  Many still consider them a scam!  Many think we are only in it to raise and sell and nothing more!   I still get funny looks when I mention I raise alpacas.  Some give me that look like, hmmm, you got taken for a ride.  I personally enjoy raising them and selling them.  I feel as Laura does, we need to treat them more like livestock and not high quality pets to get them more accepted by "Farmers"!  :)   Most think we are just quirky alpaca people!  Sorry, but that is what I see when I take my rose colored glasses off.  I don't feel I would sell someone an undesirable livestock for high quality prices.  I think we should have the alpacas drop in price to be more reasonable livestock if that is what we want to claim them to be.  Don't get me wrong...I am still paying  off my first $15,ooo purchase!  I won't pay that price again for a couple alpacas.  Alpaca fiber is so nice, but we are not at the point where they will be accepted in the large fiber mills like wool is.  If sheep cost the price off alpacas, they probably wouldn't be any further along either.  Remember, just my thoughts!  :)   Jody Jody Ehler Solon, IA 52333 J & J Alpacas Check out our adorable alpacas! www.jandjalpacas.com             To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com From: lauraroberts518@gmail.com Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:49:54 -0500 Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Alpacas...........beyond fiber    am not trying to start a war, but we have to be realistic about animals that need to be fed and many farms inability to do that, due to job losses, illness or whatever.      Alpacas have been classified as LIVESTOCK, which is why we are able to make them an agriculture business venture, however, many alpaca breeders want to consider them "Exotics" yet take advantage of the "Livestock" classification.        I personally think many alpaca breeders have a romantic view of alpacas and can't/won't even consider them being used for food livestock, yet sheep and goats are considered fiber and food all the time.      My friend has been researching different meat processing businesses to learn more about alpaca slaughter.  For some, feeding animals that no longer produce young or good fiber, is folly and despite the sentiment, must make unpopular decisions.       I have nothing against slaughter, provided it is done as humanely as possible and in an environment that does consider animal welfare.      I raise chickens, turkeys and guineas and five years ago, intended to keep every animal on our farm, despite its age or contribution to our farm.  TODAY, I am more realistic and realize we cannot afford to feed turkeys until their old age, or roosters that do nothing but cause havoc.  My dh and I processed our first turkeys this year and believe it or not, it was not the horror I thought it would be.  In fact, taking care of old, sick, injured or debilitated animals is a much more horrific task.  We were calm and treated our birds with respect and compassion.  They were calm and not frightened when the deed was done and while I will NEVER enjoy killing an animal, I felt a certain amount of pride that I hatched them, I fed and raised them in a healthy environment and they free ranged happily for many months of their life--they were sheltered and taken care of until the day they died and they died being respected and cared about.      So, I guess the point I am making is that slaughter does not have to be the evil many think it is.  Their lives served a purpose and so did their deaths..........and that is an honorable thing, imo.     Also, btw, I feed my dogs raw and we buy from a company out of Conn.  They have many products for sale and one regular item is llama meat.  I have not seen alpaca meat, but possibly sometime in the future.   Laura R Half Pint Farm Spotsylvania, VA

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