ACCEPTED INDUSTRY PRACTICE
1. When your animal dies?
a. Use your tractor/loader or shovel to dig a plot and bury the animal.
b. Pay a neighbor with equipment to bury the animal (going rate is $100).
c. Call a rendering company that disposes of livestock.
2. When you sell an animal that dies or is nonproductive?
a. Are you willing to replace that animal with a similarly valued animal?
b. Be clear about your return/replacement policy up front.
3. If you ask another breeder to sell an animal for you.
a. Establish the commission price up front.
b. If animal is boarded at seller's farm, expect deduction for care, upon sale.
4. If you "gift" and older/unsaleable animal to another farm.
a. Offer some monetary amount toward that animal's care.
b. Give them ALL the paperwork.
5. When you buy animals:
a. Expect to pay board if they are not picked up within 30 days.
b. Expect to pay transport costs for delivery of animals, unless included.
c. Expect that animals must be paid in full before delivery.
d. Realize that the seller has spent YEARS and DOLLARS to amass necessary equipment, medications, microchips, etc., and they are not FREE.
6. If you are a new farm/new owner:
a. Set aside furnds for FEED, HAY, incidentals. Don't spend all of your liquid cash on animals, as they must be fed and cared for once they arrive.
b. Realize that you will eventually need a tractor/loader; system to transport your animals; qualified veterinarian; certain meds on hand at all times.
c. There is a cost and value for colostrum, antibiotics; medications. These are standard things that EVERY camelid breeder should have on hand.
d. If you "borrow" such items, expect to pay for them or replace them quickly.