The aim of this study was to estimate the genetic parameters (heritability and genetic correlations) for characters associated with the uniformity of fibre diameter in fleece of young (tuis) alpacas of the Mallkini farm (Puno, Peru). Samples were taken from the thigh, mid-rib and shoulder of 1127 animals at the first shearing (573 males and 554 females) born in 2015 and 2016. The samples were analysed under the IWTO-12 standard of the Sirolan Laserscan equipment. The pedigree file had 10 481 alpacas giving a coefficient of inbreeding of 0.16%. The genetic parameters were estimated using ASReml and Pedigree Viewer software. The characters evaluated were the fibre diameter and its standard deviation, coefficient of variation and comfort factor. The genetic analysis was carried out using a multivariate animal model, which includes the additive genetic effect of the animal as a random e...

El objetivo del presente estudio fue estimar los parámetros genéticos (heredabilidad y correlaciones genéticas) para caracteres asociados a la uniformidad del diámetro de fibra en el vellón de alpacas tuis del fundo Mallkini (Puno, Perú). Se utilizaron muestras de las zonas corporales de muslo, costillar medio y paleta de 1127 animales a la primera esquila (573 machos y 554 hembras) nacidos en 2015 y 2016. Las muestras fueron analizadas bajo la norma IWTO-12 del equipo Sirolan Laserscan. El archivo de pedigrí contaba con 10 481 alpacas dando un coeficiente de consanguinidad de 0.16%. Los parámetros genéticos se estimaron mediante los softwares ASReml y Pedigree Viewer. Los caracteres evaluados fueron el diámetro de fibra (DF) y su desviación estándar (DE), coeficiente de variación (CV) y factor de confort (FC). El análisis genético se realizó utilizando un modelo ani...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bodyweight gain and carcass yield of young male llamas (milk tooth) subjected to fattening with four types of feeding (T1: Natural pasture; T2: T1 + vitamin injection; T3: T1 + alfalfa hay; T4: T2 + hay alfalfa). A completely randomized design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement with a covariance analysis (initial live weight as covariate) was used. Thirty-two llamas were randomized assigned to one of the four treatments for 84 days. The stocking rate was 1.3 animal units/ha. Daily weight gain (DWG) was evaluated in the fattening periods at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days. The DWG per fattening period was significantly different between periods, in the first three periods (14, 28 and 42 days) showing the best DWG (337, 237 and 160 g/d, respectively). The DWG per feed type was higher in T3 (157 g/d) during the 84-day period (p<0.01) and the best ca...

The aim of this study was to describe the system for rearing llama populations in communal cooperatives (CC) and by individual farmers (IF) in the Pasco region, Peru. Field surveys were applied to four CC administrators and 145 IF. The main breeding objective for CCs and IFs was meat production. The K'ara type llama predominated in CC and the Intermediate type in IF. The average herd size in CC was 200 and in IF 48 llamas. Mating in CC was controlled and in IF generally uncontrolled. The age at first service of males and females in CC and IF was 34.5 and 23.5, and 26.3 and 23.1 months, respectively, with a male: female ratio of 1.13 in CC and 1.18 in IF. The average permanence of males and females in the herd was 2.54 and 8.0 in CC and 4.14 and 9.6 years in IF, respectively. Male and female replacements came from the same herd in 70 and 75% in CC and in 83.6 and 98.3% in IF, respectively...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bodyweight gain and carcass yield of young male llamas (milk tooth) subjected to fattening with four types of feeding (T1: Natural pasture; T2: T1 + vitamin injection; T3: T1 + alfalfa hay; T4: T2 + hay alfalfa). A completely randomized design with a 2x2 factorial arrangement with a covariance analysis (initial live weight as covariate) was used. Thirty-two llamas were randomized assigned to one of the four treatments for 84 days. The stocking rate was 1.3 animal units/ha. Daily weight gain (DWG) was evaluated in the fattening periods at 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days. The DWG per fattening period was significantly different between periods, in the first three periods (14, 28 and 42 days) showing the best DWG (337, 237 and 160 g/d, respectively). The DWG per feed type was higher in T3 (157 g/d) during the 84-day period (p<0.01) and the best ca...

Genealogical and productive records are the most important pillars within genetic and genomic improvement programs, where the diversity of data that can be collected must be systematized and related, to carry out an adequate statistical analysis considering all the factors that influence the variables. On the other hand, the current proposals do not contemplate the total registration of the population, both genealogical and productive records. Moreover, there is no software that allows systematizing, ordering and providing objective and measurable information in an orderly manner within the management of domestic camelids. For this reason, the construction of a computer application was proposed allowing the collection of genealogical and productive records of the entire population of both alpacas and llamas within the herds. As a result, the computer application called "Pacokipu" and "Ll...

CONCYTEC co-funded this research through its project execution unit FONDECYT, as part of the project: 178-2015-FONDECYT - Doctorado en Ciencia Animal.

In alpacas color fleece phenotypes have different terminologies that induces confusion within the brown color and its shades, it requires a better description and quantification. Consequently, the aims of the study were to quantify the color of fiber and identify the informational SNPs in the MC1R gene (melanocortin 1 receptor) in brown and black alpacas. A vicuña phenotype (n=14) and four alpaca phenotypes (n=79), light brown, dark brown, brown-black and black were evaluated by colorimetry. The vicuña fleece showed greater lightness (47.74) and color intensity (24.33) compared to brown alpacas. The CIE L*a*b* values (lightness and intensity) suggest low values in eumelanic alpacas and high in pheomelanic alpacas. In vicuña and alpaca, the coding sequence of the MC1R gene has a single exon of 954 bp, in vicuñas the deletion (c.224_227del) was not observed. However, this deletion was ...

In alpacas color fleece phenotypes have different terminologies that induces confusion within the brown color and its shades, it requires a better description and quantification. Consequently, the aims of the study were to quantify the color of fiber and identify the informational SNPs in the MC1R gene (melanocortin 1 receptor) in brown and black alpacas. A vicuña phenotype (n=14) and four alpaca phenotypes (n=79), light brown, dark brown, brown-black and black were evaluated by colorimetry. The vicuña fleece showed greater lightness (47.74) and color intensity (24.33) compared to brown alpacas. The CIE L*a*b* values (lightness and intensity) suggest low values in eumelanic alpacas and high in pheomelanic alpacas. In vicuña and alpaca, the coding sequence of the MC1R gene has a single exon of 954 bp, in vicuñas the deletion (c.224_227del) was not observed. However, this deletion was ...