What do alpaca stud services cost?
Stud fees vary widely depending on the pedigree and proven performance of the stud. Prize winning animals will often command a still higher fee. Single service costs tend to be high. However, a stud owner will usually give a substantial discount for multiple services. You can often improve this discount further by teaming up with another breeder. For the small breeder starting out, a good strategy is to negotiate access to the stud genetics you need at the same time you purchase of your breeding females. You will generally get a better deal on a package than if you try to buy females and stud services separately. Another approach once you have a bigger herd is to become a member of a stud syndicate, where you purchase a share in one or more stud alpacas and share access to other animals within the syndicate. This can give access to a wide choice of genetics at a relatively low cost.
