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Suri Alpacas are priced according to:
AGE
Nursing Crias, Weanlings, Juveniles, and Yearlings, all other things being equal, cost less than proven adult Suris.
Proven females have the advantage, and thus higher price, because she has "proven" herself to be able to reproduce.
Young males are "unproven", until they have proved that they are fertile and can produce a cria.
"Proven" males are just that---they have settled females, and have sired crias.
FLEECE
Show quality fleece meets certain criteria including the amount of Luster, Density, Fineness, Staple Length, Consistency of Lock Type, Consistency of Color.
The budding Suri Alpaca Fiber Industry is working diligently to find uses for ALL Suri fiber.
CONFORMATION
The strong, balanced Conformation of a breeding animal is very important, and something that should be passed on to the next generation.
In the female, a balanced frame with strong, level back, and correctly-spaced hips help the female carry a cria to term with minimal strain on her body.
The male needs to have a broad chest and strong hindquarters in order to carry out his breeding responsibilities with strength and stamina.
BLOODLINES
Bloodlines can be a very important aspect of an animal's quality. Notice that I didn't say "is always"--- Bloodlines are one part of the quality of a particular Suri. Some lesser known bloodlines have produced wonderful animals.
Some breeders are looking for particular bloodlines, in which case it is important to publish the ancestry. Advertising bloodlines can be an effective marketing tool, as long as it's done with integrity.
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