It takes hours and hours of study and working with alpacas before you will become competent to judge the quality of an alpaca.
There are, however, some things that you can look for to help you eliminate certain alpacas from your list of possible purchases.
First of all lend a critical eye to the farm operation. If the farm is clean and well kept this is a pretty good indication that herd health is a priority with the breeder and your alpaca will have received regular maintenance as well as vaccinations and worming.
Take a good look at the ears. They should be spear-shaped and not too large but not too small either. Make sure they do not resemble llama ears which are quite long and banana shaped.
Nearly one half of the defects which cause imported animals to be rejected during screening is leg problems. The alpacas legs should be straight, however some animals look knock-kneed because of their fibre, so you need to actually feel the legs.
Check the eye colour. The jury is still out on blue eyes as some breeders consider them to be just fine while others look at blue eyes as a fault. Alpacas being screened for importation are not rejected because of blue eyes.
Check the jaw and the teeth to make sure they are aligned properly. Alpacas loose their teeth at about four years of age and grow their final set so this could influence the alignment of the lower teeth to the upper dental palate.
If purchasing a male alpaca, check to make sure there are two testicles and ensure that they are of adequate size for the age of the animal.
In females the vulva needs to be examined to ensure it is aligned properly as this can effect breeding and birthing.
If buying a pregnant female ask to view last year's cria. If purchasing a male take a look at the crias he has sired or if purchasing a young animal examine the parents.
Fibre is very important when purchasing alpacas. First decide what colour you like because you are going to be seeing a lot of the animal. Some people don't like white because the animals tend to get dirty but other people just love white because the fibre can be washed and then dyed so many fabulous colours.
Many adult alpacas have had a histogram done so ask to see a copy of it. It will tell you the fibre diameter (micron count), anything below the mid 20s is good. Take a look at the other measurements to make sure that the fibre is reasonably uniform and doesn't have excessive prickle. Look to see if the animal has adequate coverage and try to get the most density possible. Crimp is also very important, however some of our lovely coloured Chileans are a bit shy on crimp but you can add it with a breeding to a good crimpy male.
There are books available to help you with your purchase. Give us a call if you would like this information.
However, if you are just starting out in alpacas, chances are you will not have the expertise to thoroughly assess your potential purchase even if you do read all the right books.
Therefore, your very best guarantee is to deal with a breeder that you trust. One that you will feel comfortable going back to with any problems or for help and advice. This is still a small industry and everybody wants to be sure that their clients are totally satisfied with their purchase.
Also, be sure to get a veterinary examination report and a confirmation of pregnancy and don't forget a written sales agreement.