1. Fiber. Now there’s a concept! Isn’t that what these animals do best? Now if you just sell raw fiber, you may not be too excited with the results. But it gets better if you “vertically integrate”. That is, sell yarn or finished goods. Even better if you can do some of the spinning, knitting yourself.
There are a number of reasons why someone may choose to withhold a male from their breeding program. Maybe his conformation isn’t right on target. Maybe he doesn’t have great coverage. But his fleece may be great. Maybe not as dense as we would like, but still good handle and softness. For example, most breeders will not use a white male with blue eyes for breeding. Yet these animals frequently have very soft consistent fiber. Imagine the nice next-to-the-skin garment that fleece will make!
Many believe that gelding a male at 12 to 18 months will prolong the fineness of his fleece. It is known that younger fleece has a finer handle. On mature breeding males, the fleece coarsens over time, due at least partly to hormones. While not proven, it is likely that without the influence of testosterone, the gelding’s fleece will maintain its softness and handle for significantly longer as he gets older.
By doing some of the processing yourself, it is possible to not only make a little income on fleece, but to actually make a modest profit. There is definitely a market for alpaca yarn and finished goods. Handled creatively, a fiber herd can definitely be an asset.
2. Starter herd. Many potential alpaca farmers are/were city slickers in their “other” or “former” lives. A herd of two or three geldings can provide much needed experience in animal handling and farm management. At a more modest initial investment, these boys can give their humans the confidence they need before starting in with a more expensive breeding venture. Those big brown eyes are so captivating! Hauling around a few bales of hay and 5-gallon water buckets – not to mention the ever present poop scooping - bring alpaca farming down to reality! Better to gain some experience with the more forgiving geldings than risk high quality breeding animals with your learning curve.
3. Companions – for their herdmates. Having a couple of geldings can be invaluable in keeping other males company. Newly weaned boys that must be separated from the females are not always ready to go in with the “big boys”. Geldings make great uncles! Or, on occasion, when two intactmales get too rambunctious with each other, geldings are the perfect solution to keeping them separate, but not alone. Geldings provide a good balance in the male pastures. They are also good company for an animal that would otherwise have to go to the vet or a show alone. Established farms will purposely keep a few geldings on board for just these reasons.
4. Medical emergencies. Geldings can be invaluable, being used as donors for a life saving transfusion or transfaunation to a sick alpaca. This occurrence is rare, but you will be glad you have a “willing volunteer” available!
5. Companions – for their humans. Many are thrilled to have geldings to use in 4H, therapy work, or PR. Most breeders will not want to put their pregnant females or valuable herdsires in a local parade, for instance. But geldings are a good choice. Of course, the temperament of each animal is unique, but having a male gelded will often promote a calmer temperament. With a little training, geldings can be perfect for your farm PR animal. And, since alpacas, with their gentle quiet nature, have a way of connecting particularly with those who are shy or handicapped, or the very young or old, geldings make especially good therapy animals, too.
A recent “Alpacas Magazine” article (Spring, 2005, pg 150), “Geldings with a Cause: Kids Helping Animals, Animals Helping Kids” highlights an invaluable contribution geldings can make. The Paca Peace Ranch pairs up ten children with ten alpaca geldings for a year of learning and training. The children gain experience handling the animals, but also increased self confidence.
4H and FFA groups find alpacas especially versatile to work with. Children can learn care, training, showmanship, and fiber arts. Alpacas, along with their fiber, make great “projects” and are not threatening to children who might be intimidated by other animals. Their gentle, timid, and curious natures are naturally appealing to children.
And some people just like having alpacas! They may not be interested in the complexities and challenges of breeding, but may have fallen in love with these wonderful creatures and just simply want to have some close by. In our sometimes hectic world, many seek a more peaceful lifestyle. Without the added cares (and costs) of breeding animals, geldings can provide that connection.
6. Show animals. What – show geldings? Yes! We know that halter classes will check to verify all necessary “parts” of a male. But obstacle and performance classes are definitely wide open to geldings. What better way to advertise how well handled and trained the animals on your farm are? These are also great classes for kids to participate in with the animal they have worked with. That is a proud moment for a child to win a beautiful big ribbon! Get those geldings out there! Showing off a well-trained gelding is a plus for any farm. And the ribbons are just as wonderful and make just as good a display, too.
And – don’t forget! - the fiber competition is great for geldings also. Fiber is fiber is fiber – no matter whether male, female, or gelding. And fiber, after all, is what it’s about. Many geldings have fabulous fiber. Show it off! Let’s submit those entries and encourage quality in our fiber herds. Geldings aren’t just non-breeders. They are the future of the fiber industry. That ribbon in the fiber competition or spin-off represents the overall excellence of fiber quality in breeding and non- breeding animals alike. Prize-winning fleece in a gelding is an indicator of a successful breeding program.
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