This review is based on the publication «Definition of breeds of alpacas and llamas», by Animal Genetic Resources journal, which places the alpaca at the primary level in the evolution of domestic animal breeds. and makes a review of the domestication of the alpaca, the treatment received during the conquest and colonialism, the inclusion of the alpaca fibre in the international textile market, the technical management during the Republic until the present, first in large farms (haciendas), then in the associative companies and currently in medium-sized properties and in State institutions and universities. Management testimonies are also presented with figures from some producers and finally the morphological differential characters and the fibre structure that characterizes and defines the Suri and Huacaya breeds.

The aim of this study was to show the progress of the genetic improvement of the alpaca that inhabits the southern part of Peru, especially in the production of fibre, considering the negative statements. The written literature developed during the last century was reviewed and analysed. First, the variations in alpaca breeding techniques in the periods of the Inca, Viceroyalty and Republican times were reviewed. Then the concepts and criteria of breeding and selection practiced in southern Peru on alpacas were reviewed (first in the communities, then the farms, cooperatives, medium-sized farms and public and private institutions for the production of fibre with the influence of the textile market international). In the third part, the population changes of the Suri and Huacaya breeds and the change in fibre fineness and fleece colour preference were analysed. Likewise, the fineness data...

El objetivo del estudio fue establecer el perfil de las principales características físicas de la fibra de alpaca que pueden servir para su mejor comercialización y para fines de mejoramiento genético. Se hicieron mediciones de 145 muestras de colores blanco, intermedio y oscuro pertenecientes a alpacas de cinco comunidades del distrito de Cotaruse, Apurímac, Perú, utilizando el equipo ODFA 2000 para determinar el diámetro de fibra (DF), el coeficiente de variación (CV[DF]), el factor de confort (FC) y el índice de curvatura (IC). Se estimaron los efectos de la comunidad, el sexo, edad, color de la fibra y sitio de muestreo sobre el DF, CV(DF), FC e IC y la relación entre ellos. El promedio del diámetro de fibra (MDF) estuvo influenciado por la edad (p<0.01) (valores entre 21.61 y 24.32 μm), por color de fibra (22.30, 23.81 y 26.69 μm para blanco, intermedio y oscuro, respec...