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And please don’t think "alpaca industry growth" is US-centric - this is an international gathering place with members all over the world after all. It would be so interesting to gain a global perspective from you all.
I would posit that questions as to the benefits and cost-effectiveness of registering all alpacas was always going to be devisive once the hype and exoticness of owning alpacas faded and hard economics became the new reality.
While a viable registry is a must, the ability of stakeholders to justify the cost becomes more pressing and necessary as early investors in the industry understand the reality that not all alpaca breeders are seed stock suppliers and that every animal is a valuable breeding animal ……
What we have now is a growing number of alpaca owners who are more hard-nosed about costs of production and return on their investment dollars - registering an animal has to be justified against the fiber return for many, especially for males born and placed in the fiber and meat sectors of the industry.
Registration costs are high for the benefit they bestow on commercially-oriented fiber and terminal market suppliers - and they must be given that the industry body (AOA) relies largely on the cah-flow to cover its not insubstantial costs.
I don’t think registration can be so easily classified as help or hindrance - I think it is much more about doing ‘business’ than anything but I am prepared to be challenged on that point-of-view!
I would posit that questions as to the benefits and cost-effectiveness of registering all alpacas was always going to be devisive once the hype and exoticness of owning alpacas faded and hard economics became the new reality.
While a viable registry is a must, the ability of stakeholders to justify the cost becomes more pressing and necessary as early investors in the industry understand the reality that not all alpaca breeders are seed stock suppliers and that every animal is a valuable breeding animal ……
What we have now is a growing number of alpaca owners who are more hard-nosed about costs of production and return on their investment dollars - registering an animal has to be justified against the fiber return for many, especially for males born and placed in the fiber and meat sectors of the industry.
Registration costs are high for the benefit they bestow on commercially-oriented fiber and terminal market suppliers - and they must be given that the industry body (AOA) relies largely on the cah-flow to cover its not insubstantial costs.
I don’t think registration can be so easily classified as help or hindrance - I think it is much more about doing ‘business’ than anything but I am prepared to be challenged on that point-of-view!