Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
Challenges and opportunities of genetic improvement in alpacas and llamas
in Peru
G. Gutierrez1, J.P. Gutierrez2, T. Huanca3 & M. Wurzinger4
1Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Av. La Molina, Lima, Peru
gustavogr@lamolina.edu.pe (Corresponding Author)
2Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Avda. de Séneca, 28040 Madrid, Spain
3 INIA-Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria, Av. La Molina 1981, Lima, Peru
4BOKU-University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel-Strasse 33, 1180
Vienna, Austria
Summary
Alpacas and llamas play an important role in the livelihood of many rural families in
the High Andes of Peru. The census of 2012 indicates a population of 3 million alpacas and
746,269 llamas. Both species are kept in extensive, low-input, pasture-based systems in
altitudes between 3800 m and up to 5000 meters above sea level. Smallholders keep mixed
herds of sheep, alpaca and llamas as a mitigation strategy against fluctuating market prices.
Since 1997 the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture manages a genealogy registry for
alpacas and llamas, but so far the up-take rate by farmers and inscription rate of animals is
low. The national research organisation INIA (Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agaria) runs
an ex-situ in-vivo conservation program for coloured alpacas (21 different colours) and
llamas. INIA is also doing research in the area of embryo transfer, artificial insemination and
controlled mating.
There is no national breeding program for alpacas, but all individual initiatives from
private companies, NGOs and farmers´ cooperatives aim to improve fibre quality by reducing
fibre diameter. At the moment these various local programs are not connected. There is also
no national breeding program in place for llamas. Little attempts have been made to set up
functional breeding programs for this species.
Furthermore, there is no a national conservation plan in place. However, INIA have
just started the formulation phase of a National Bank for Agrobiodiversity Conservation that
include ex situ in vitro conservation of SACs.
The Peruvian Ministry of agriculture prioritizes in the recently launched national
livestock development plan for 2017 – 2027 alpacas and llamas. Support for the development
of breeding plans is mentioned as one action line to increase productivity in both species.
Keywords: alpacas, conservation, llamas, genetic improvement, Peru
Introduction
Both domesticated South American Camelid (SAC) species, namely alpacas and
llamas, play an important role in the livelihoods of many rural families in the High Andes of
Peru. The area of production overlaps with high incidences of rural poverty. The figures from
2017 indicate that 34% of all alpaca farmers are considered as poor and 12% as extreme poor
(MINAGRI, 2017a).
SAC provide fibre, skins, meat and manure for agricultural production, are a
cornerstone of cultural heritage and llamas are still, but with declining importance used as
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
pack animals. Alpacas are mainly kept for fibre production and meat is a secondary product,
whereas for llamas it is the other way around and meat is the predominant product.
Peru hosts about 85% of the worldwide alpaca population, whereas 65% of the llama
population is located in the neighbouring country Bolivia. The last national census of 2011
reported 3.0 million alpacas and 746,269 llamas. This means an increase of 1 million alpacas,
but at the same time a decline of about 300,000 llamas since the last census in the year 1994
(INEI, 1994; INEI, 2012). 80% of alpacas belong to Huacaya type, 12% are Suris and 8% are
intermediate (MINAGRI, 2017a) and about 70% of llamas are considered as a more wooly
type (called Lanudo or Ch’aku) and 30% are more meat oriented type (called Pelado or
K´ara). The distribution of llama types varies according to region, where more Lanudos are
found in the South of the country (Puno district) at the boarder to Bolivia and K´ara more in
the central Highlands.
SAC contribute to the regional economy and alpaca fiber is in high demand by the
textile industry. Since 2001 the alpaca fiber production increased annually by 1.79%, which is
mainly a result of an increase in number of animals. In 2015 the fiber production reached
4,478t at national level, of which 90% was for export market and 10% for the national market
(mainly for handicraft). Main destinations are Italy, China, South Korea and Taiwan. In 2016
the export volume of tops was 51 million US $ with an average price of 14.6 US $/kg
(MINAGRI, 2017a).
The aim of this paper is to present advances in research, but also development
initiatives related to genetic improvement in alpacas and llamas in Peru. The authors do not
claim to provide a complete picture of all research and development activities as they are
sometimes scattered and isolated and not well documented, but compiled to their best
knowledge relevant information at hand for Huacaya alpacas and K´ara llamas. The paper
presents more data on alpacas as there is more information available. This reflects also the
economic importance of these animals.
Production systems
Alpacas and llamas inhabit the Andean highlands and are kept at altitudes between
3800 and up to 5000 meters above sea level. Although both species are very closely related,
they have different demands on their respective habitat and therefore occupy different
ecological niches. Llamas can better cope with arid conditions and low quality feed resources
(Flores, 1991; Flores and Gutierrez, 1995). Therefore, llamas are more concentrated in the
drier highlands in southern Peru.
Both species are kept in extensive, low-input, pasture-based systems. Differences in
ownership patterns can be observed between alpacas and llamas (Table 1). On average, an
alpaca farmer has 50 animals and 30% of the total alpaca population is raised by farmers,
who own less than 5 ha of land (MINAGRI, 2017a). 76% of the Peruvian llama population is
kept on farms with less than 50 ha and 41.5% of llamas are found on farms with less than 3
ha (Fernandez-Baca, 2005). A study from the Central Andes in the department of Cerro de
Pasco indicates an average number of 36 llamas per farmer (Gutierrez et al., 2012).
Table 1. Different ownership patterns for alpacas and llamas in Peruvian Central Highlands
Type Communal Communal Association Individual Private
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
cooperative farm farmers companies
Main Sheep Sheep sheep sheep alpaca
livestock alpaca Alpaca alpaca alpaca
llama llama
Land owner Community community community community Company
Member Community A Group of Individual company
members community individuals –
families
Main Members Community Members Individuals Company
destination of investments /
profit services
Radolf et al. (2014) documented that farmers like to keep mixed herds of sheep,
alpaca and llamas as a risk mitigation strategy and to increase resilience towards fluctuating
prices for different products. This study also showed that farmers perceive climate change as
a possible threat for their livestock production. They favour llamas over alpacas as they are
considered to be better able to cope with an increasingly stressful environment. The forecast
for the Central and Southern Andes predicts a decline in annual precipitation, which translates
directly in declined pasture productivity, but also in a change in fodder plants (SENAMHI,
2009). Pizarro et al. (2015) modelled different possible scenarios under climate change and
demonstrated that llamas might be more relevant as an adaptation strategy in the near future.
Current situation of genetic improvement
Government initiatives
In 1997 the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture established the genealogy registry for
alpacas and llamas. The objective of this registry was to identify and record all animals which
are phenotypically according to the set standards. Animals only with a score with 75 or higher
(maximum 100 points) are allowed to enter the registry. The up-take rate of this system is
very low and only a very small number of animals are actually recorded in this system. One
of the problems is the extremely strict standard to include animals in the registry, another one
is that farmers do not see a benefit of having animals registered.
At the research farm Quimsachata in the department of Puno in Southern Peru the
national research organisation INIA (Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agaria) runs an ex-situ
in-vivo conservation program for coloured alpacas (21 different colours) and llamas (Huanca
et al, 2007). The low number of females in the program, low fertility rates and high mortality
rates of young animals are stated as limiting factors for genetic improvement (MINAGRI,
2017a).
INIA also execute the national program for innovation in camelids (Programa
Nacional de Innovación Agraria en Camélidos-PNIA) with its aim of establishing controlled
mating and use of good breeding males. INIA is also doing research in the area of embryo
transfer, artificial insemination and controlled mating.
In 2017 a livestock department (Dirección General de Ganadería) within the Ministry
of Agriculture was re-established. This department prepared the national livestock
development plan for 2017 – 2027. The Ministry set as goals the increase of the export
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
volume up to 3,426t and 67 mio US$ by the year 2027. For the same year an increased
production of 5,900t of greasy fibre and 2.3 kg/alpaca/year is envisaged (MINAGRI, 2017b).
This should be achieved through different strategies such as strengthened farmers´
cooperatives, dynamic information system for alpaca and llama value chains, quality
certification of camelid meat, improved access to credits and better linkages between private
and public stakeholders. The design and implementation of a national breeding program for
SACs, gene banks and production centres of breeding males are explicitly mentioned as
genetic improvement strategies.
Regional governments (e.g. Puno, Cusco) provide funds for development projects in
alpaca production system, but not for llamas. They emphasize farmers´ training in
management and trading, they also organized breeding male centers to share males with
farmers, but this strategy did not work well because of the lack of a genetic evaluation system
and genetic structure of the alpaca population at smallholder level.
Alpacas
Genetic parameters
Several studies were carried out to estimate genetic parameters for fibre, growth and
reproductive traits in Peruvian alpaca population. Average fibre diameter (FD), standard
deviation of FD (SDFD), coefficient of variation of FD (CVFD) and comfort factor (CF),
defined as % fibres less than 30 microns, have shown from moderate to high heritability
(Cervantes et al., 2010; Paredes et al., 2011; Gutiérrez et al., 2014). Heritability estimates for
fleece weight ranged from low to high values (Gutiérrez et al., 2009; Paredes et al., 2011;
More et al., 2017). Growth and reproductive traits ranged from low to moderate respectively
(Cruz et al, 2015, 2017). Genetic correlations between FD and SDFD was positive and high
and between FD (Cervantes et al., 2010; Paredes et al., 2011; Gutiérrez et al., 2014; More et
al., 2017) and CF were negative and high (Cervantes et al., 2010; Gutiérrez et al., 2014). In
contrast, the genetic correlations between FD and FW ranged from low to moderate
(Gutiérrez et al., 2009, Paredes et al., 2011; More et al., 2017), FD and reproductive traits
were very low (Cruz et al, 2015). Genetic correlations between FD with growth traits were
positive and moderate (Cruz et al, 2017). It is also plausible to reduce the FD variability
across age (Gutierrez et al 2011). Research has been conducted to estimate heritability for
medullation fibres, preliminary results indicate a moderate heritability.
Breeding goals and selection criteria
Although there is no a national breeding plan, the main goal in alpacas is to reduce FD
and its variability across the fleece. Currently, many institutions have OFDA equipment to
offer FD related measurements to alpaca breeders in Cusco and Puno. Some breeders want to
increase FW, but it is not recorded routinely in most farms. Moreover, Pacomarca farm
included the reduction of the prickle factor as a breeding goal, but it is not clear what will be
the appropriate selection criterion (% of medullated fibres, SDFD, etc.)
Breeding programs
Isolated initiatives to implement breeding programs have been started by different
actors like Pacomarca (farm of textile company), Mallkini (farm of textile company), INIA
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
(national research organization), Pasco (group of farmers), DESCO (NGO), UNSAAC
(university) or Rural Allianza (farmers enterprise) (e.g. Mueller 2007). Some of these
initiatives run a genetic evaluation using BLUP. The problem is that these breeding programs
are isolated and farms are therefore not genetically connected. Some alpaca farms achieved a
significant amount of genetic improvement, thus a decreasing in FD from 22.5 to 18.4
microns in about 10 years was reported at Pacomarca farm (Gutierrez JP, personal
communication).
Smallholders sometimes buy animals from the initiatives mentioned above where
animals are registered and performance records are kept, but there is no follow-up after these
purchases on animals. There is currently no breeding program run for or with smallholder
farmers, who own the majority of the alpaca population.
Reproduction technologies
Artificial insemination, embryo transfer, in-vitro fertilization, semen and embryo
freezing have been investigated for several years. However only embryo transfer has been
applied routinely for genetic improvement in some herds (e.g. Morante et al 2009)
Llamas
Genetic parameters
Few studies were carried out for estimating genetic parameters for growth and
reproductive traits llamas in Peru but results were not conclusive (eg Mamani-Cato et al
2014).
Breeding goals and selection criteria
Compared to alpacas, initiatives and projects working on genetic improvement in
llamas are very limited. From 2011-2013 and from 2014-2017 two small research for
development projects were implemented by UNALM-Universidad Nacional Agaria La
Molina together with farmers in Cerro de Pasco region, Central Andes. The first project
aimed at the design and implementation of a community-based breeding program. In a multi-
stakeholder process different options were developed and farmers formed officially the
PROLLAMA association (Wurzinger and Gutierrez, 2017). In the second one recording
mechanisms, performance testing of young males, alternative feeding and meat processing
strategies were evaluated (Gomez at al., 2015, Gutierrez et al., 2017). In the scope of an FAO-
supported project, which was jointly executed with Bolivia, an online database for llama
recording was designed and capacity development for farmers and young scientists in the
field of animal science were carried out. The breeding program is still not fully operational,
but there are currently discussions between the Ministry, the local government and farmers
how this program could be supported for the coming years.
Gutierrez et al. (2012) revealed in a study from the Central Andes that the most
important selection criteria for males and females are body size, conformation, color and
pedigree. Information on pedigree does not mean that farmers have written information about
the ancestors of each individual animal. This only means that farmers can identify the dam
and in some rare cases the sire of their llamas (Gutierrez et al., 2012). In a ranking
experiment where farmers were asked to rank young breeding males, the three most important
Proceedings of the World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production, 11.762
characteristics out of a total number of eleven, were strong cannon bone, chest width and
height at withers (Wurzinger et al., 2017). All these criteria indicate the importance for meat
production in llamas.
Conservation strategies in alpacas and llamas
Although a germplasm bank for alpacas and lamas was implemented already in 1983
in Quimsachata research unit, there is no a national conservation plan in place. However,
INIA have just started the formulation phase of a National Bank for Agrobiodiversity
Conservation that include ex situ in vitro conservation of SACs.
Genomic tools
A test for parentage verification using microsatellite markers was set up for many
researchers in Peru (Rodriguez et al 2004, Agapito et al 2008, Yalta et al 2014; Moron et al
2015). Some studies to associate molecular markers with FD was conducted (Paredes et al
2014), but more research is needed to confirm the results. Studies have recently started to
identify and allocate SNP markers in alpacas, preliminary results reported a number from
about 50,000 to 60,000 SNP by using a High Density Bovine Beadchip (Bertolini et al 2016).
Conclusions
Alpacas and llamas are important animal genetic resources in Peru and contribute to
the national economy and support the livelihoods of many rural families in the Andes.
Over the last years research, especially in alpacas, has shown some advances, but
implementation of fully functional breeding programs including a large number of animals
remains a challenge to be solved. As there is an interesting international market for especially
fine fibre there is an incentive for farmers to work towards this goal. A possible solution
would be the establishment of a sire-reference scheme between already existing initiatives,
support by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The situation remains still more challenging for the llama sector. The advantages of
llamas, especially under changing climate conditions, are not yet fully recognised and the
development of a market for these products still has to be developed. In addition, further
research is needed to know the genetic structure of the llama populations for a design of
sustainable breeding programs.
A positive development is that the Ministry of Agriculture recognises in its
development plan the importance of both species. It still has to be proven that the new plan
will be implemented in the coming years and enough budget will be allocated to all required
activities.
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