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AlpacaNation Q&A with Big Red Alpacas
Kimberly Davidson & Carolyn Campbell
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366 Conley Road, Cambridge, NY 12816
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(518)708-0809 cell
AlpacaNation: How did you decide on your farm name? Is there a special meaning behind the name?
Big Red Alpacas: Yes, Kim is a Cornell Aggie thru and thru. Cornell Big Red Bears...GO BIG RED!! How could we not be BIG RED ALPACAS?!
AlpacaNation: How long have you been in the alpaca business?
Big Red Alpacas: We just started the alpaca business in late 2003. Our first animals arrived at the farm in late 2004. We have spent the interim years studying and visiting farms, going to seminars and shows, and practicing, practicing, practicing our herd management. We cannot believe how much we have learned...yet we have only begun to skim the surface on all the info we need, and want to learn. There is neither enough time or enough money (or vacation) to learn all that we need to as fast as we'd like to!
We have relocated our farm to upstate NY, next to the Davidson Family Farm. We are starting all over again with the construction of the infrastructure for our growing herd.
AlpacaNation: What do you tell prospective buyers who look at the small profit the alpaca fiber produces compared to the daunting prices of alpacas?
Big Red Alpacas: The thing I like best about the alpacas is how they help ease my tax burden on my normal income.
We're growing our herd and setting up our infrastructure while we're still employed off the farm, so that we get the maximum tax savings. We plan to have enough excellent quality alpacas and studs producing breeding stock when we retire to help support our modest farm life.
The alpacas are an investment that keeps growing...but the infrastructure is also an investment that should be in your business plan.
The fiber, funny enough, provides for me, an enjoyable diversion in the winter months, while the breeding and birthing consumes my summers. How do you put a value on all of that?
AlpacaNation: What steps did you take to prepare for raising an alpaca herd?
Big Red Alpacas: I, Kim, was lucky enough to have had a full Animal Science degree's worth of training in Field Crops, Soil Science, Manure Management, Reproduction, Anatomy & Physiology, Endocrinology, Parasitology, etc, etc.... This makes the farm side of things a nice "review".
However, there's a whole new level of interest in these studies and management strategies when your own investment is on the line. Nothing prepares you for that!
However, on a serious note, we spent months and months looking at animals, we STILL study every new barn we see and photograph all the best ideas. We're still interested in the safest, and most cost effective fencing, watering, and feeding programs.
We went to every seminar we could afford and many that we couldn't. Even when we couldn't take our animals to the shows, we went for all of the excellent seminars. We still go! I still take notes!
AlpacaNation: How did you become interested in alpacas?
Big Red Alpacas: Interesting story...we thought about doing an organic goat dairy, but Kim harkened back to her cow milking days and remembered...twice a day, 365 days a year!! Then we had a pet llama. We looked into breeding him, maybe buying a female or two...well, he didn't have papers, had little or no worth, and we didn't know who would buy llamas from us. And they were SOoo expensive.
Then we found, at the fairs while we were looking for more llamas, these really cute little animals, so much less intimidating, and magnificently MORE expensive! Well we knew we had to have them. (Crazy, aye?)
While we have made our share of mistakes, we never look back. We love the peace and serenity these creatures have brought to our lives!
AlpacaNation: What advice would you give to those just getting started in the industry?
Big Red Alpacas: Keep Looking and learning, but don't wait too long to pull the trigger. Even our mistakes...we learned faster by making them, than by sitting back and thinking about buying some alpacas. We've saved a fortune in taxes, and yes, we've spent a fortune, but there was a good chance we would have done that anyway...like the fencing, the tractor, the barns...we would have had them even if we only had pet animals. This way we have the best of both worlds, lovely animals and a tax break!
AlpacaNation: What has been the most helpful advice you have received from your veterinarian?
Big Red Alpacas: Don't Panic!!
AlpacaNation: Do you have a favorite Alpaca? Why is it your favorite?
Big Red Alpacas: Hmmm, Kim in particular has a number of favorites, each for their own traits...
Lina- my sweet girl, calm, enduring, steadfast.
Noel- Kookie Aunt Noel loves everybody and everything. A peach of a personality!
Lenita- Beautiful carriage, 3/3-girls, ribbon winners, fine black fiber, responsive.
Luck Be A Lady - The kiss of Nicholas makes her the silliest gal on campus, rivaling her 1/2 sister Noel. Very affectionate.
Prudence - Little spitfire with the finest fiber and the spunkiest attitude...just like her mom!!
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