Alpaca Info

I am asking your opinions on something.

At our place, we have a gorgeous young Alpaca male whom we had planned to show this spring as a juvenile. He is from Premier's Absolute, has a nice fawn color, excellent composition and his fiber is thick, soft and quite crimpy.

Here is the problem: He had an accident and cut his eye. We have not been able to determine the cause, but the vets at WSU said since the lens was gone and based on the shape of the cut, it looked like it was caused by trauma, such as being kicked. His left eye was removed.

The question is, shall we still show him? According to AOBA Show Division, it is quite within the rules as long as his entry registration is accompanied by a vet's statement that the cause was from trauma and not something hereditary.

I plan to enter him this week for the Albany, Oregon show in March and Alpacapalooza. I am a bit nervous about the reaction he will receive, but I also feel that he is the same guy he was before losing his eye and he should be able to show what he has. His value as a potential herdsire has not been diminished in my opinion. Yet, I have heard from a few people that I should prepare for a great deal of resistance, especially from some of the judges and the larger Alpaca breeders. What do you all think?

I am out of town now, but will add a photo of him when I get home. Alpaca Info