Delgado, J.

Markemann, A.

Siegmund‐Schultze, M.

Stemmer, A.

Valle Zárate, A.

English

University of Kentucky

University of Kentucky UKnowledge International Grassland Congress Proceedings XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress Llama de Ayopaya: Towards Marketing of High Quality Fine Fibre in the Bolivian Andes M. Siegmund‐Schultze Universität Hohenheim, Germany J. Delgado Universität Hohenheim, Germany A. Stemmer Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Bolivia A. Markemann Universität Hohenheim, Germany A. Valle Zárate Universität Hohenheim, Germany Follow this and additional works at: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc  Part of the Plant Sciences Commons, and the Soil Science Commons This document is available at https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/21/22-1/16 The XXI International Grassland Congress / VIII International Rangeland Congress took place in Hohhot, China from June 29 through July 5, 2008. Proceedings edited by Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference Published by Guangdong People's Publishing House This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Plant and Soil Sciences at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Grassland Congress Proceedings by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact UKnowledge@lsv.uky.edu. 瞯 ]1074　 瞯 　 Multifunctional Grasslands in a Changing World 　 Volume Ⅱ 　Grasslands/Rangelands People and Policies——— Market andMarketing for Grasslands/RangelandsLlama de Ayopaya : towards marketing of high quality fine fibre in the Bolivian AndesM . Siegmund‐Schultze1 , J . Delgado1 , A . Stemmer2 , A . Markemann1 , A . V alle Zárate11 Universit惫t Hohenheim , Institute o f A nimal Production in the T rop ics and Subtrop ics , Garbenstr .17 , 70593 Stuttgart ,Germany . mssch＠ uni‐hohenheim .de 2 Universidad Mayor de San Simón , Cochabamba , Boliv iaKey words : special quality product , llama fibre , Bolivian highlandsIntroduction Llama fibre has the reputation to be of minor quality and therefore , in the Bolivian highlands , llamas areincreasingly being replaced by alpacas although the former are still the dominant species in Bolivia . Alpacas are less hardy inrough weather and rangeland conditions and do not share the transport force of llamas appreciated in the mixed systems .Moreover , it is of ten overseen that llamas possess a double coated fleece with a fine undercoat , and the fibre quality judgementis not sustained by current quality controls . Pertinent data are lacking as the llama fibre price in Bolivia actually does notaccount for quality differences . If however llamas possess special quality traits , they offer a unique marketing option in thedisfavoured highland areas by utilizing the local genetic resource .Materials and methods Llama wool samples of three different regions were subjected to fibre quality assessment : ２７６６ llamas ofAyopaya region located in the Eastern Cordillera ( ４２００‐４３００masl ) , ８１４ of the Northern Plains ( ４０００masl ) and ９７ of theCentral Plains ( ３８００masl) ( Delgado ２００３ ) . The following quality traits were tested : total fibre diameter , total fine fibrediameter ( ≤ ３０μm ) , and proportion of fine fibres . Analysis of variance was performed by SAS software . Interviews withrepresentatives of the textile industry were conducted on requirements for marketing of wool and the respective qualitystandards . Preliminary steps were undertaken in promoting high value fibre commercialisation by small‐scale farmers .Results and discussion The three llama wool sources showed clear quality differences ( Table １ ) , whereas all were better thantheir current reputation . The high quality product �baby alpaca�has a total fibre diameter of maximum ２２ .５μm ( Annon .２００１ ) . The grouped samples in this study reached this quality with ２２ .２μm on average or even ２０μm when only considering thefine fibres that result from the dehairing process . Moreover , the llama fibre from Ayopaya had the highest proportion of finefibres with ９１％ . Coupled with best homogeneity of the fleece , as expressed by lowest standard deviation of total fibrediameter , Ayopaya fibre was considered outstanding and the most promising of the three sources .Table 1 L lama f ibre quality in the three study areas .Trait Unit Ayopaya North CentralTotal fibre diameter μm ２２ T.２a ２２ 览.２a ２７ ,.９bStandard deviation of prior μm ７ &.５a ８ 拻.６b １１ ,.５cTotal fine fibre diameter１ ) μm ２０ T.５b ２０ 览.０a ２２ ,.６cProportion of fine fibres１ ) ％ ９１ T.３a ８９ 览.７b ７４ ,.５cValues in a row with no common superscript are significantly different at P ≤ ０ .０５１) fibres ≤ ３０μm 　 Source : Delgado ２００３Interviews with potential retailers revealed several limitations of actual sale , namely irregular and late first shearing of animals ,mostly in deficient conditions , resulting in a fluctuating supply of produce with irregular quality .It has been reported that alpaca fibre quality decreased tremendously over the last ５００ years , namely from １８μm to a currentaverage of about ２８μm ( Annon . ２００１ ) . This clearly calls for monitoring and preventive breeding measures at farm level inorder to conserve or improve the high actual standard of llama fibre in Bolivia . In Ayopaya , fibre samples are taken regularlyfrom young males in order to provide farmers with the necessary information for selection . It is suggested to castrate the non‐selected males . Moreover , the scientific results are regularly presented in cooperative meetings and were summarized in afarmer leaflet to be provided to potential customers in order to inform on the outstanding quality product .Conclusions and outlook A special quality of llama fibre was detected in Ayopaya region , reinforcing the multi‐purpose value ofllamas in the flocks of highland farmers . Attractiveness and competitiveness of the fibre produce at the market have beeninvestigated a priori to designing a full marketing concept . Similarly needed is the assessment of the feasibility and economicefficiency of management changes at farm level mandatory to produce a steady quantity of quality llama fibre .ReferencesAnnon . , ２００１ . Alpaca seeks a new fashion role . Wool Record １６２ : ５３‐５５ .Delgado , J .D . , ２００３ . Perspectivas de la producción de fibra de llama en Bolivia . PhD Thesis ,Universit惫t Hohenheim .Cuvillier , G迸ttingen .

Llama de Ayopaya: Towards Marketing of High Quality Fine Fibre in the Bolivian Andes

https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3891&context=igc

Llama de Ayopaya: Towards Marketing of High Quality Fine Fibre in the Bolivian Andes

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

University of Kentucky