Farming & Ranching Alpacas: What You Need to Know

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Ranching alpacas is a topic of interest, with discussions highlighting the distinction between ranching and farming. Alpacas are noted for their volatile market, with past experiences indicating significant financial losses for some owners who entered the market at its peak. Despite their reputation for being smelly and spitting, alpacas are generally considered sweet-tempered and have lower upkeep costs compared to other livestock, like sheep. They are resilient in cold weather and do not carry lanolin, which contributes to their odor. The potential for profit exists, with some alpacas selling for high prices, but caution is advised due to market fluctuations. Local alpaca farms are present, indicating a resurgence in interest in raising these animals.
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Ranching alpacas

Anyone know anything about it?
 
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Wouldn't you ranch alpacas, not farm them?

Also, is ranch a verb?
 


lisab said:
Wouldn't you ranch alpacas, not farm them?
OK.[10 char]
 
Ranching is a form of farming.

Alpacas were popular around here for a time. The only comment that I recall hearing about it is that the market is highly volatile. I know that perhaps ten years ago, some people lost their shirts by buying at the peak of the market. I don't know what has happened since then, but I have seen a few alpacas again lately.
 
I know they smell really bad and like to spit. Thats all I know.
 
Topher925 said:
I know they smell really bad and like to spit. Thats all I know.

I thought that was lamas...alpacas are supposed to be sweet-tempered. Also, alpacas don't have lanolin, so they don't smell as bad as lamas.
 
They make nice sweaters.
 
I've heard they cost around $10k per pair. Not for me.
 


DaveC426913 said:
Anyone know anything about it?

Actually, there are a few alpaca farms in my area. Apparently they handle cold really well. They eat relatively little (low cost upkeep), and aren't vulnerable to as many infections as sheep.

http://www.sfalpacas.com/

Oh, and for some reason, they don't smell from about 10 feet away, but once you close that gap... yikes!
 
  • #10
Ivan Seeking said:
Ranching is a form of farming.

Alpacas were popular around here for a time. The only comment that I recall hearing about it is that the market is highly volatile. I know that perhaps ten years ago, some people lost their shirts by buying at the peak of the market. I don't know what has happened since then, but I have seen a few alpacas again lately.

the trick is to get in early

[PLAIN]http://d.yimg.com/a/p/uc/20101119/largeimagecl101119.gif
 
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  • #11
There are a few farms by me. I have a friend who helps on one farm and she once told me the owner had sold an alpaca for 20k! A prize alpaca can go for 80k!
 
  • #12
[PLAIN]http://icanhascheezburger.files.wordpress.com/2010/11/funny-puns-your-doom-shall-be-warm-and-soft.jpeg?w=500&h=399

Lol, the URL of that pic has this in it: "your-doom-shall-be-warm-and-soft"
 
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  • #13
lisab said:
I thought that was lamas...

Tip from Ogden Nash:

The one-l lama, he's a priest.
The two-l llama, he's a beast.

:wink:
 
  • #14
jtbell said:
Tip from Ogden Nash:

The one-l lama, he's a priest.
The two-l llama, he's a beast.

:wink:

Except in the case of the Fernando.

You look marvelous!
 
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