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 c...