Alpaca Investment
As stated on page For Pets or Profit, You can decide whether you want to own alpacas to make a big profit, or own them as a pet, this is your decision. I personally own alpacas for pets and for their fiber. Either way you go, is going to take some investing.
Basic/Estimate Costs:
- Breeding Animals
- Females - Around $10,000 and higher
- Males - Stud Fees are around $750/$1,000 dollars. Males For sale depends on quality.
- Fiber Animals (Unproven breeding or gelded)
- Female - Around $1,000 to $5,000 dollars
- Male (Fiber Boys) - Around $500 to $3,000 dollars
Lots of farms have package deals, use these to your advantage and even negotiate other alpacas into the deals! An example for a package deal would be fiber boys, instead of two fiber boys individually for $500 dollars, you can get both for $750 dollars (Possibly could say, throw another alpaca into the package and ill pay $1000 dollars.. Or an example for females is instead of buying a $30,000 dollar female, get multiple females and maybe their last crias and get maybe 10-20% off each animals original price.
When I wanted to start getting involved with alpacas I was determined to make profit with them, until I realized the cost of females and that it did not fit my budget, so I am happy to own fiber boys, and know my money is going to expenses that are required and not expenses to hopefully be making profit. Although Farm loans and other loans are available if you choose you want to start into the alpaca business no matter the cost.
Other things you will need to invest into: (click here for companies that sell livestock items)
- Halters and Lead Ropes
- Feed and Medication such as worming medicine
- Guard dogs (Optional) and correct fencing for your alpacas safety
- A Website to promote your alpacas, fleece and other items you could sell with it
- Vet Bills if something goes wrong