OK so I don’t have a specific one in mind and it would be years off, as I work in a large metropolitan area and I’m years probably years from an eary semi-retirement, STILL…
I saw a PBS show on the joys of raising alpacas and even though I’ve no farming experience whatsoever, I admit to being charmed by the peacefullness of the critters and the thought of living “away from it all” (especially this week).
Am I nuts? Does anyone who has any practical experience in the matter care to give me a reality check?
I thought you were going to say you had been offered an “opportunity” by a slick talking salesman.
I knew a couple of people who lost wads of dough in the ostrich fad a couple of years ago. The scam is like that movie “The Producers”. You sell 100 people 10% shares. There’s a small farm they can see, if they come to the right state (the salesmen always pick suckers several states away). Then, after they squeeze you for more money for “special breeding stock”, and “bird flu”, they report all have died. A few bones are buried for any fraud inspectors to find.
This sort of thing has been going on at least since the chinchilla farms of the late 40’s. (Although I suppose the Athenians sold olive groves in Rhodes to the Cretans.)
I’ve got a friend and former colleague who owns an alpaca ranch. They’ve got about 25 animals, and the herd is increasing. I don’t know all the financial aspects of it, but if you email me privately, I will contact my friend for info on how to get into the business.
I’ve got a friend and former colleague who owns an alpaca ranch. They’ve got about 25 animals, and the herd is increasing. I don’t know all the financial aspects of it, but if you email me privately, I will contact my friend for info on how to get into the business.
Actually, income wouldn’t be a major priority as I was considering this for a post-semi-quasi-retirement move. It would be nice to make enough to maintain the upkeep and recoup some of the initial investment. One figure I remeber hearing is that a pregnant female can go for about $20,000.
If you like peaceful animals, and don’t mind larger ones if they are cheaper, I’d suggest llamas. A pregnant female would only be about $2000. They are more friendly and less shy, too. But I am biased. You can email me with any questions if you want.
The notion of country living is completely understandable.
Except for, raising any livestock is work, and plenty of it.
The expenses are considerable (vet bills, vaccinations, etc.) and of course feed and electricity to keep the water from freezing. The markets are volatile and many specialty farms often have difficulty getting off the ground. The only successful small farms that I know of here in Alberta, are the large scale operations, that are diverse and automated.
My brother thought he’d raise a pair of calves, and the expenses far outweighed the profitability. After awhile, it became a nuisance when they would escape or moo incessantly at nights.
“Hobby” farms are more work than hobby IMO.
I’d say if you want to be a farmer, do what I do - raise trees. They don’t moo and they smell better.
Don’t forget with WTO, you’re going to have a lot more competition from cashmere from China. There is a glut here at the moment. That will put downward pressure on Alpaca prices.
