RED DEER, Alta. – The glitz and the glamor was there, but the sky-high prices for llama breeding stock was down compared to other years.
The Legacy Llama sale, which draws consignors and buyers from all over Canada, saw 85 lots total $419,700 to average $4,940. In past years the sale has earned more than $1 million.
While prices were lower than past years, this year’s set of livestock gave new breeders an opportunity to join the industry or expand their herds, said sale manager Warren Fertig.
Animals came from some of the country’s most reputable breeders in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario.
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Next year organizers and breeders expect the sale will go through the roof again when the offspring of imports from Peru and Bolivia walk across the stage. Imports from these two countries have been allowed only since 1994.
This sale has become well known for its sales staff in tuxedos, champagne for successful buyers and a sales ring that looks more like a Parisian high fashion runway.
While prices are higher at American sales, this sale has built a reputation for quality in other ways, said llama expert Andy Tillman of Bend, Oregon.
“The American sales may get higher prices, but Legacy is the best sale of its kind in the world in terms of presentation and showmanship.”
Big buyers
This year’s sale belonged to Rick and Sue Clauson, owners of Six Pack Ranch at Quesnel, B.C. They not only bought the high-selling llama, they were volume buyers for the day, spending $64,000 on seven lots.
Their top bid was $25,000 on a two-year-old female consigned by Andy and Cheryl Tillman of Bend. This dark-colored llama was a sale favorite because she grows long, crimped fibre referred to as suri type. Suris are a rare breed of alpaca valued for their long, fine tendrils of fleece.
Other high sellers included an entry from Kevin Isayew, whose family owns White Star Llamas and
Alpacas at Prince Albert, Sask. White Star’s Galaxy sold to Norm Duffy of Willows Edge Llamas at Sherwood Park, Alta., for $16,500.
Sue Wilde of Raymond, Alta., enters the Legacy sale regularly and sold a yearling female for $15,000 to Martin James of Saanichton, B.C.
Another above-average female was DSTL Pippi Longstockings who sold for $9,250 to Vern and Garth Drader of Abbotsford, B.C. A showy female with an ivory-colored son, she was offered by Tom and Hedi Liska of Prairie Moon Estate Llamas and Suri Alpacas of Biggar, Sask.
