Alpaca Herdsire Selection: The Art and the Science The herdsire for any breeding program is the single most important determinant of overall herd quality. It’s true for cattle, sheep, horses, or any other breed. For alpacas in North America the sire is even more important. Alpaca bloodlines are currently available for only four or five…
Alpaca Taxes 2003: Why Not Have Uncle Sam Help You Buy Your Alpacas Raising alpacas can offer the farmer some very attractive tax advantages. In 2003 those benefits got a lot better due to the “Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act.” which was enacted into law on May 28, 2003. The new rules have added…
After many years in the show ring both as an exhibitor and more recently as a judge, I have some observations on what it takes to win. These are merely my opinions and you may or may not agree, but if they are helpful and you win a few more ribbons then my purpose is…
The alpaca breeder’s idea of type is created by their visual picture of the characteristics that are considered ideal for the breed. An ideal breed type is often based on the details of conformation and color that are not necessarily related to the economic productivity of the animals. In alpacas, examples of this might include…
There are two ways that Huacaya breeders think about crimp in the United States. One group believes that crimp is not an important trait. The other camp says crimp is highly desirable. The show rings in all countries value crimp and many breeders around the world select for crimp. Is it important, or not? Animal…