I’m neither Chinese nor a potential alpaca breeder, but it’s news to me that alpacas are bred stateside as anything other than pets. In the past, the word most associated with “alpaca” has been “scam”. A casual Google search revealed that another key word is “subsidy”:
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/dec/24/uncle-sam-will-help-buy-you-an-alpaca/
Scam?, well I suppose that any industry could have that name attached to it over unscrupulous people gets their hands on it.
For myself, and all of the other small Alpaca Farmers this is no scam. And they are livestock, not pets. You have NO idea how many times I’ve had to correct that. And I blame the Alpaca Owners and Breeder Association for that. They had a stupid ad campaign a few years ago calling Alpacas the “Huggable Investment”. They are no more huggable than a sheep or a goat. Yes they are soft and feel wonderful. But they don’t like it and they “can” display that.
As far as “subsidy” goes. I’ve never seen one! My farm is a business that I run as a business. I can take business related deductions off of my taxes and I report and pay taxes on my sales.
No longer accurate, IMO.
The fiber world has gone to alpaca in a big way. In my nearest small town, there is a HUGE alpaca fiber shop with such a large online business they have, within 5 years moved from an average-sized shop to a former 1/2 square block 2-story department store with a full basement. Carded batts, spun wool, felted sheets and finished goods comprise the line. It is very expensive and they cannot even keep up with the knitters, crocheters, spinners and weavers who want this fiber.
I think every farm in my area has a small herd and some have a large one. It was an investment scam, but now people have their marketing act together and I see an established and mature market. Evidently the Chinese do, too. I know of at least 2 local other businesses that only custom card and dye alpaca and are ordered to the walls. Subsidies come and go, but this is a market that has reached critical mass in both production supply and demand and it is inevitable that it will be taken over.
I have manufactured a wool felt sewing notion for 27 years. I have had American buyers for large chain operations attempt to reproduce my product and insult me by asking if it could be made in China when I won’t meet their onerous terms. I have had people hire away my workers to learn my production methods. This gushing approach is SOP. I saved my business because I have changed my production process multiple times to cut margins and kept certain aspects totally proprietary. I come across forums where others are attempting to figure out how my product is made. Since this is a commodity and not a process, Americans are going to face competition as everyone wants to get into a popular niche. An upside for the consumer will be cheaper fiber, but there may be a backlash if the fiber artists demand organic fiber.
The Chinese cashmere is awful. Thin and without the hand of cashmere as it once was. They will ruin alpaca the same way.
American producers must become known for top quality or they will be crushed.