/24-7PressRelease/ - SYLVIA, KS, March 01, 2008 - "Raising alpacas is very enjoyable and is as much a hobby as a business --- after all, if you're doing something you really enjoy, it isn't so much like work!" Michael Murphy, Suri Alpaca breeder, who offers others the opportunity to share in this profitable business.
Raising alpacas can be a profitable business opportunity - with many enjoyable side advantages. Visit the Flying M Ranch in Sylvia, Kansas, meet the animals, and see for yourself the rewards and profits of this business.
The Flying M Ranch is owned and operated by Michael and Janis Murphy, who specialize in breeding the rare and beautiful Suri Alpaca. Resembling a small llama, alpacas are bred for their fiber, used like sheep's wool to make knitted products—rugs, blankets and even high-fashion garments.
"Alpacas offer everything you could hope for," says Michael Murphy. "You can easily put seven to eight alpacas on an acre. They are enjoyable to work with, and the income opportunities are outstanding. However, the people were an unexpected bonus. We have a great group of new friends in this industry. They are all very helpful to new breeders and to each other in times of need."
"We chose Suris for two reasons," says Michael Murphy. "We both loved their long flowing pencils of fiber compared to the wooly look of the Huacayas. Also because Suries are much more rare, we believe the investment potential is much better and longer lasting. We now have a herd of more than 80 beautiful Suris of every color."
Opportunities in the alpaca industry
With many opportunities in this industry, people can choose the areas that suit them best. Michael Murphy admits, "I really enjoy researching individual animals and making breeding choices in an effort to improve the breed quality. I also love spending time with the animals, interacting with them, showing off their qualities to prospective buyers and to judges in the show ring." He says he also gets satisfaction helping new breeders establish themselves and learn the business. Helping breeders to expand and improve their breeding program also brings him great satisfaction. "I really enjoy educating people about the joys of alpaca ownership and the quality of their finished products," says Murphy.
Alpacas: A production industry
According to Murphy, for the foreseeable future, this will be a production industry, producing offspring and refining the breed as the industry moves toward the next phase. "Since imports are no longer allowed from South America, the genetics we currently have in the US are all we'll ever have," explains Murphy. "However we have sufficient quantities to avoid the problems of inbreeding. In South America, with the exception of a few ranches, animals were allowed to breed without any effort to make changes or improvements. Since I've been in the business, the improvement in the quality of the animals and their fiber has been nothing short of phenomenal. Animals that would have won a show five years ago would not even place now. As an industry we are making great strides. The Suri industry formed and passed a Breed Standard," says Murphy. "We are pooling our marketing efforts and conducting research toward improving fiber characteristics. Also, there are more options for putting our fiber into finished products."
The Suri Alpaca Fiber: "We can point to a finished product and say which animal produced the fiber."
The Suri fiber is more suited for lace-weight products and woven into cloth either as 100% Suri or as a blend with other fibers. "There are three co-ops where we can exchange fiber for finished products, and we have done that in the past," explains Murphy. "There are also buyers who will buy your fiber wholesale. We sell a small amount to home spinners, but are moving to a phase in our business where we take more control over this aspect. Currently, we are working with a mill in northern Kansas to process our fiber and produce finished products. We can even point to a finished product and say which animal produced the fiber. We use all of the fiber: the lower leg and belly fiber is made into rugs or felted for use as bedding. The fiber from the upper legs and neck goes to blankets, and the prime fleece goes to fine, high-fashion garments. These can be sold online or in cooperation with other venues such as shows."
Commitment to the industry
"We are committed to this industry!" says Michael Murphy. His wife, Janice, agrees. "We are committed to raising healthy animals and increasing quality as each generation passes. We are also committed to be more than just a ranch where breeding takes place. Honesty, support and service before and after the sale are vital to a great relationship, and you can count on us to provide that and more. According to Michael, "All our female Suris are sold either bred or with a free breeding when they are of age. All Suris are sold including transportation to your ranch. We feel it is best you have nothing to worry you after the purchase and no surprise expenses."
A retired United Airlines pilot, Michael Murphy has served as President of MOPACA (his local affiliate). He has also served as board member of The Suri Network where he was board liaison to the Marketing Committee and Managing Editor of Purely Suri, the affiliate's semi-annual magazine. The Suri Network is dedicated to the preservation of the Suri Alpaca, and both Michael and Janice Murphy firmly believe in that mission.
For more details, log on to their website: http://www.flyingmranch.net. Or send an email to Michael and Janis Murphy at info@flyingmranch.net
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