Alpacas 101

Selling Alpacas

SELLING ALPACAS: 

• Breeding females $15,000 - $80,000
• Young females $10,000- $50,000
• Stud quality males $7,500 to hundreds of thousands
• Geldings or fiber animals $500 - $2,500
• World record price at public auction for a single Suri male is $267,000
• Known world record price for private treaty sale of a Suri male is $325,000!

Suri Alpacas exhibiting exceptional phenotypic characteristics or pedigrees will occasionally fetch much higher prices than these ranges. By purchasing a number of animals from a single breeder, the buyer can often negotiate lower prices per animal. Male prices are driven by age, quality of fiber, conformation, and whether or not he has quality offspring on the ground. 

BREEDING STOCK - Most Alpaca owners are also breeders. It is one of the few investments that have the capability of reproducing its value each year. A female giving birth to a female cria has just doubled her value, or paid for herself. How many stocks typically have 100% gain in a year?!

FIBER ANIMALS- There is a market for males, geldings and non-producing females in the fiber market. These animals have good value even though they are not producing babies each year. All of their energy can go into fiber production. They are typically much less expensive than breeding stock and the market is wide open for serious fiber producers.

FIBER SALES- Their are two outlets for alpaca fiber: The Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America and the existing "Cottage Industry". The A.F.C.N.A. is asking for 50% of our annual clip to get the co-op off to a good start. They process the fiber and turn it into "value-added" products: roving, yarns, and finished luxury products such as lap throws, comforters, various garments and accessories. A.F.C.N.A. shareholders can then purchase the products at wholesale prices and sell at retail. The A.F.C.N.A. is not necessarily the choice of every alpaca breeder. Many alpaca breeders have successfully taken advantage of the "Cottage Industry" by either selling directly to hand spinners and weavers or by producing their own finished goods. 

PRODUCT SALES - Farm stores are becoming increasingly popular. Ambitious entrepreneurs will find that fiber demand far exceeds production. There is never a problem selling the fiber when a market is discovered. 

MARKET (NOW)- Because of the low numbers of Alpacas in the United State, supply and demand has dictated prices.  The breeding stock market will remain very strong for a long time. Much of our time is spent exposing the public to alpacas and educating them to the advantages and uses of alpacas. We have only just tapped into the vast possibilities alpacas and their fiber offers.

MARKET (FUTURE) - Experts anticipate very little change, if not higher prices, for quality breeding stock in the next ten years or more. It will take many years to develop the number of fiber producing alpacas to support a strong national alpaca fiber industry. In the meantime, the cottage industry will be the stronger market.