Why are suri alpacas so valuable?

There is much to wonder about in the alpaca industry.  Why are these animals so valuable? Will they continue to hold their market value, or is this all a "flash in the pan"?

We have found through experience that the alpaca market has been strong through several episodes of bull and bear markets on Wall St.  It is possible to view the alpaca as a commodity, but we think this is a short-sighted view.

Remember that the foundation of their value is alpaca fiber or fleece.  We have to shear them each year to "harvest the crop".  Correct shearing is key to the value of the fleece.  But take this idea through to its completion.

The fiber must be processed for the value of the alpaca to be realized.  We have actually to do something with that fiber for the value of the alpaca to be realized.  In this respect, fiber or non-breeding alpacas have enduring value; they are shorn each year for the fiber to be processed.

Without fiber processing, there is no enduring basis for the value of the alpaca.  Unless we use the fleece, breeding alpacas for show is a dead end route.

To understand the value of the rare and beautiful suri alpaca, we have to understand the unique characteristics of the suri fleece.  This takes time and experiece to gain this understanding.   We've spent 8 years focussed on this subject, and we've pioneered an innovative technique for shearing the suri alpaca.   We can't wait to share this information with the suri industry, but our industry has to want to shear suris as though the fleece matters.

If you're interested in suri fleece for textile markets, please send us an email or give us a call.  We'll share with you all we know, and invite you to be part of shearing season on our farm.  There really is a whole new economy here, waiting to be discovered.