What are the most important considerations for a more rapid return on my investment?

l. Quality

2. Quantity

3. The age of the animals

l. Quality. The first alpaca you purchase will become your foundation stock. All future returns on your investment will depend on how high a quality the offspring will achieve. Poor quality offspring will bring lower prices while high quality, award winning alpacas will sell for very high prices. These initial foundation animals will more than likely be your source of revenue for the next ten to fifteen years. That is why it is so important to purchase the very best foundation stock.

2. Quantity. If you purchase only one pregnant female, for example, she has a 50/50 chance of a female birth. If she has a female of equal quality to the mother, the owner has a very high potential level of success for return on investment. If, however, the female delivers a male, it will be much more difficult to sell one male alpaca because it can only produce income by becoming a high quality stud after two or three years. If you begin your herd with a purchase of three to six pregnant females, you have increased your chances of female births and a faster return on investment.

3. Age. The age of the animals also becomes a very important factor in determining how fast you will recoup your investment. If you purchase a six month old female, you will wait over two years before you have an offspring old enough to sell. If, on the other hand, you purchase a female that is pregnant and will give birth in two or three months, you may have an offspring ready to sell in nine months. The age of the alpacas purchased also becomes an important factor.