Facts and myths about South American camelids

Abstract

The transfer that has been made to the US and Europe of the Domestic South American Camelids in the last 27 years, has totally changed the reality of the monopoly that was held over these species, as well as the population number in the Central Andes has varied. Peru is considered to lead the surveys in number and quality, followed by Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Today the United States has passed to third place in population, and soon Australia will be playing with that country the third place in the world. After some years of continuous export, the USA, Canada and other countries have closed their Genealogical Records, because they consider that they already have the necessary quantity and quality of alpacas, being able to compete in quality with Peru. Peru continues to conserve great genetic variability, the largest population of alpacas and llamas, of high genetic quality, that with a well-structured program, made between successful breeders and professionals with experience and intelligence, the genetic material could be quickly disseminated, avoiding inbreeding and inter-specific and interracial crossings. The country has some Experimental Stations working "in situ" in research on alpacas and llamas. The lack of genetic improvement in most of our herds is expressed in the low percentage of fine fiber produced in the country. We do not need thousands of hectares of native pastures to breed alpacas and llamas; a number of hectares are sufficient for the corrals and management systems, and the production of various forages, such as oats; also barley, alfalfa, and soy flour as sources of protein. Some mineral salts, starting with common salt, abundant in the country, as well as strategic vitamins and minerals, missing in some areas, such as copper, sulphur, selenium.