Workshop: Get Started Raising Alpacas
March 8-9, 2008

Able Oaks Ranch Alpacas in Rusk, Texas and Acacia Camelid Ranch in Frankston host this workshop that covers everything you need to know to decide if alpaca ranching is for you. Get an in-depth look at two working alpaca ranches and learn about tax advantages and benefits, marketing, setting up ranch facilities, pastures and hay, herd management and nutrition, breeding and birthing, plenty of hands-on with the animals, and much, much more.

Valuable Workbook Included

This workshop includes a 65-page workbook covering all the above topics in great detail and a list of additional resouces. The workbook alone is well worth the cost of the workshop.

Who Should Attend

Alpacas are one of the most prosperous livestock for ranching. This workshop is for people new to farming and ranching and also for experienced ranchers, who want to add alpacas or minature llamas to their current ranching operations. Both ranches are located about 20 minutes from Jacksonville, Texas, which is midway between Dallas, Austin, Houston, and Shreveport. The workshop includes a free continental breakfast and lunch on both days. Cost of the seminar is $90 per person or $165 per couple.

Get directons to Able Oaks Ranch.

Please remember to bring a folding/portable chair for each person attending.

Seminar schedule topics are as follows:

• 8:30 - 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast



• 9:00 - 9:15 AM Introductions



• 9:15 - 9:45 AM Financial Advantages and Tax Benefits
  New tax laws help subsidize alpaca investment for rapid wealth building. The underlying value of the fiber.



• 9:45 - 10:15 AM Marketing Alpacas
  Proven ways for successful marketing. Offering boarding, stud services, and transportation services. Marketing support from AOBA and other alpaca organizations.



• 10:15 - 10:30 Break



• 10:30 AM - 11:00 PM Vertical Marketing
  Marketing alpaca products through fiber farm stores, trade & craft shows, and retail outlets.



• 11:00 - 11:30 PM Selecting Good Alpacas
  Characteristics of quality alpacas. Conformation and fiber. Recognized colors and fiber types.



• 11:30 - 12:00 PM It's the Fiber!
  A closer look at alpaca fiber. See and handle a large variety of alpaca fiber samples. Learn to read fiber histograms.



• 12:00 - 12:45 Lunch



• 12:45 - 1:15 Barns and Fences
  Facility planning and requirements for large and small acreage.



• 1:15 - 2:00 Alpaca Nutrition and Pastures
  Building and maintaining good pastures. Feed supplements for dams, sires, and crias.



• 2:00 - 2:15 Break



• 2:15 - 4:00 Meet an Alpaca
  Hands-on with an alpacas. Learn to catch and halter an alpaca or mini-llama. Learn to examine its fleece, gait, and conformation.

Day 2: Sunday, March 9 in Rusk Texas

• 8:30 - 9:00 AM Continental Breakfast



• 9:00 - 10:00 Herd Management
  Worming, annual shots, toenail clipping, shearing, heat stress, microchipping, and general health. Hands-on with shots and toenail clipping.



• 10:00 - 10:45 AM Breeding
  The camelid reproductive system. Selecting males, inbreeding issues. Teasing males. Receptive female behavior. Spit-testing for receptive and non-receptive females. Progesterone blood tests and ultrasounds to confirm pregnancy.
  
  
• 10:45 - 11:00 Break


11:00 - 11:30 - Spit testing demo


• 11:30 - 12:00 Normal and Abnormal Birthing

Female behavior prior to birthing. Stages of a normal birth. Signs to call the vet.


• 12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch



• 1:00 - 1:30 Set up a cria birthing kit



• 1:30 - 2:00 Cria IGG testing, plasma infusions, supplemental feeding, and weaning



• 2:00 - 2:30 Showing Alpacas
  Competing in the show ring and fleece shows. How to enter a halter show and what to take. More hands-on with alpacas.



• 2:30 - 4:00 Ad Hoc Q and A