The aim of this study was to determine some reproductive parameters (gestation rate, number of young, age distribution and reproductive age) of female vicuñas in two management systems: wild and captivity, in the Cusco Region, Peru. The capture of the animals ("Chaccus") were carried out between May and August 2017. The pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasound in 143 females, the presence of offspring by observing functional udder in the females, the age distribution and reproductive age by means of the records of capture and observation of the dentition. The percentage of gestation was of 74.6 and 79.4% for the wild and captivity systems, respectively. In the juvenile population were pregnant 29.9 and 4.4% in the wild and in captivity, respectively. The number of young animals in the wild was 36% and in captivity 53%. The proportion of young vicuñas was similar in both manag...

The concentrations of total proteins, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and 17-β-estradiol in the follicular fluid were determined in non-pregnant Huacaya alpacas in reproductive age according to the development of the ovarian follicle (size). In total, 60 slaughtered alpacas in the local slaughterhouse were used. Samples of small (<4 mm), medium (5-7 mm) and large (>7 mm) follicles were taken (n = 20 by size). The diameter of the follicles was measured with a vernier and the follicular fluid was aspirated. The samples were analysed in the Biochemistry Laboratory of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (Puno, Peru) using colorimetric and spectrophotometric techniques. The concentration results for small, medium and large follicles were: total pro...

Two embryo production protocols were evaluated: superovulation and single ovulation, determining the collection rate and quality of the embryos, as well as fertility and natality during the reproductive and non-reproductive season, at 4200 meters above sea level and under field conditions. The collection rate of embryos in simple ovulation was 53% (44/83) embryos versus 242.3% (63/26) in superovulation. The quality of the embryos collected by single ovulation was: grade I (90.3 and 83.6%) and grade II (9.4 and 16.7%) and none of grade III; while in superovulation it was: grade I (76.6 and 87.5%), grade II (14.9 and 12.5%) and grade III (8.5 and 0%) for the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons, respectively. Fertility was similar between single ovulation (56.4%) and superovulation (56.0%). The birth rate was 41.1 and 30.0% for single ovulation and superovulation, respectively. It is ...

Alopecic areas have been described in the lateral and medial area of the metatarsus of South American camelids, and have been called "metatarsal glands", analogous to those present in cervids. In this study, tissue samples were collected from the metatarsal region of 8 specimens (6 adult alpacas and two foetuses [5 and 8 months]) in the slaughterhouse of Sicuani, Cusco (Peru), and were fixed in 10% buffered formalin and processed by the standard histological technique. Six samples were stained with Hematoxylin-Eosin, PAS and Golden Masson's Trichrome, and were subsequently evaluated by brightfield microscopy, and two samples of adult alpacas were processed by freezing cutting with a cryostat and subsequent differential lipid staining with Nile red and nuclear contrast with Hoecht 33342 and evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. A high epidermal tissue was observed, made up of main cells o...

The gestation biometrics of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos) are described. The abdominal diameter was determined monthly from 10 pregnant alpacas. In addition, uterus of 49 pregnant alpacas were collected from the Maranganí herd (Cusco, Peru) and classified by gestational age known as mating date (every 30 days from day 30 to 330 [± 15 days]). Gravid uteri were weighed and measured, allantoic and amniotic fluid was removed and measured, and fetal weight and length were determined. The results indicate a slight increase in abdominal diameter until the end of gestation, the fetus gradually increases its weight as gestation progresses, being greater from the sixth month onwards. The total length of the fetus increases from month nine. The amniotic fluid represents less than 18% of the volume of the allantoic fluid, both fluids have low volumes. An increase in fluids could be observed towards m...

The aim of this study was to determine some reproductive parameters (gestation rate, number of young, age distribution and reproductive age) of female vicuñas in two management systems: wild and captivity, in the Cusco Region, Peru. The capture of the animals ("Chaccus") were carried out between May and August 2017. The pregnancy was determined by transrectal ultrasound in 143 females, the presence of offspring by observing functional udder in the females, the age distribution and reproductive age by means of the records of capture and observation of the dentition. The percentage of gestation was of 74.6 and 79.4% for the wild and captivity systems, respectively. In the juvenile population were pregnant 29.9 and 4.4% in the wild and in captivity, respectively. The number of young animals in the wild was 36% and in captivity 53%. The proportion of young vicuñas was similar in both manag...

The concentrations of total proteins, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and 17-β-estradiol in the follicular fluid were determined in non-pregnant Huacaya alpacas in reproductive age according to the development of the ovarian follicle (size). In total, 60 slaughtered alpacas in the local slaughterhouse were used. Samples of small (<4 mm), medium (5-7 mm) and large (>7 mm) follicles were taken (n = 20 by size). The diameter of the follicles was measured with a vernier and the follicular fluid was aspirated. The samples were analysed in the Biochemistry Laboratory of the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano (Puno, Peru) using colorimetric and spectrophotometric techniques. The concentration results for small, medium and large follicles were: total pro...

Two embryo production protocols were evaluated: superovulation and single ovulation, determining the collection rate and quality of the embryos, as well as fertility and natality during the reproductive and non-reproductive season, at 4200 meters above sea level and under field conditions. The collection rate of embryos in simple ovulation was 53% (44/83) embryos versus 242.3% (63/26) in superovulation. The quality of the embryos collected by single ovulation was: grade I (90.3 and 83.6%) and grade II (9.4 and 16.7%) and none of grade III; while in superovulation it was: grade I (76.6 and 87.5%), grade II (14.9 and 12.5%) and grade III (8.5 and 0%) for the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons, respectively. Fertility was similar between single ovulation (56.4%) and superovulation (56.0%). The birth rate was 41.1 and 30.0% for single ovulation and superovulation, respectively. It is ...

El objetivo del estudio fue describir la cintura pélvica, la pelvimetría y su relación con la biometría en alpacas. Para la descripción ósea se utilizaron cuatro piezas pélvicas de alpaca hembra. Además, se utilizaron a 72 hembras destinadas a faenamiento (subdivididas en tres grupos etarios de 4, 5 y 6 años) para tomar las medidas pelvimétricas internas (diámetro sacro-púbico, diámetro bis-iliaco superior, diámetro bis-iliaco inferior y diámetro bis-iliaco medial) y distancias pélvicas externas (distancia inter iliaca, distancia interisquiática y distancia ílio-isquiática); además, se tomaron tres medidas biométricas (altura a la cruz, largo del cuerpo y diámetro abdominal). La descripción ósea de las pelvis demuestra la presencia del hueso inter-isquiático, y el piso pélvico de forma ligeramente cóncava, lo cual incrementa el área pélvica. La pelvimetría i...