Boarding Alpacas and Llamas

If you are new to alpacas, "agisting" is the term used to mean boarding alpacas or miniature llamas. Agisting, or boarding alpacas and mini-llamas, is an option if you don't own acreage, or you are still developing ranch facilities. Agisting at Able Oaks Ranch means treating your alpacas and mini-llamas with the same loving care as I treat my own animals. Located on 50 acres of improved pasture in Rusk, Texas, your alpacas will receive loving, individual attention at Able Oaks Ranch!

Check with your tax consultant, but there are definite advantages to becoming a “passive owner” by purchasing breeding stock (the 179 deduction of "Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Tax Act) before the end of the year. You can also write off travel expenses to visit your animals and educational workshops offered by Able Oaks Ranch.

Forage and Shade: Able Oaks Ranch has eight large paddocks in which to rotate animals to new forage, as they graze down grass in older paddocks. Forage at Able Oaks Ranch includes a mixture of well-maintained grasses, including bermuda, bahia and winter rye and wheat, and free-choice hay harvested from my own hay fields. It is a lush green most of the year, as we are fortunate to receive an average annual of 44 inches of rainfall. Even in the deep winter, green winter rye and wheat grasses are available for grazing. Forage is then appropriately supplemented with high-quality pellets and free choice vitamins and minerals to optimize breeding, gestation, lactation, and healthy fiber production.

There is plenty of shade, a large barn with fans, loafing sheds in the paddocks, and a nice breeze to provide comfort and protection from our hot Texas summers.

Tax Advantages of Boarding: Curious about taxes and "passive" ownership? The Alpaca Owners and Breeders Associations (AOBA) offers the following explanation:

"The less active owner using the agisted ownership approach may not enjoy all of the tax benefits (possible), but many of the advantages do apply. For instance, the passive alpaca owner can depreciate breeding stock and expense the direct cost of maintaining the animals. The main difference between a hands-on or active rancher and a passive owners involves the passive owner's ability to deduct losses against other income. The passive investor may only be able to deduct losses from investment against gain from the sale of animals and fleece. The active ranches can take the losses against other income."

Passive ownership enables you to build your herd until you are ready to "retire" or acquire acreage, while supplementing your income and gaining some tax advantages at the same time. Please, check with your own tax consultant about your particular situation.

Boarding fees are $75 per month with crias by mom's side free until 3 month's of age. Supplemental milk feedings for a cria is $2 per feeding. Regular care, such as toe-nail clipping and worming are free. All vet bills are at owner's expense

This page was last updated on October 5, 2010.