Husbandry and breeding practices of alpaca farmers in Ecuador and Peru: an exploratory study.

South American camelids (SACs) play an important socioeconomic role in the Andean regions. This study aimed to investigate the differences in alpaca farming and husbandry practices between Ecuador and Peru, and to analyse the effects of the farmers’ gender and the length of SACs farming experience thereon. A total of 102 alpaca (Vicugna pacos) farmers completed a questionnaire. The mean SACs farming experience was significantly lower in Ecuador than in Peru, and more experienced farmers kept significantly larger alpaca herds. Women were more often involved in alpaca farming than men in Peru. The main purpose of alpaca farming was for fibre and meat production. In Ecuador, 68.2% of the farmers kept the breeding males and females together during the whole year, while in Peru, 69.0% of farmers kept them separately and managed their breeding period. Significant calving seasonality was observed in both countries, with the peak of calving season in February. Farmers from both countries indicated that the most common problems included internal and external parasites, as well as a lack of pasture available. These are areas that require further attention from researchers and governments to enhance the sustainability of alpaca production. Additionally, understanding possible barriers for women in Ecuador regarding involvement in alpaca farming could contribute towards future development efforts.