Evaluation of camelid-based farming systems in rural communities in the highlands of Bolivia

摘要

In this study llama and alpaca farming systems are being examined over 14 months in indigenous communities of the eastern slopes of the Andes in Bolivia. The main geographic focus of the study is the community of Wallat'ani, located at 4.300 m above sea level, in the Province of Ayopaya, Department of Cochabamba. Because of the community's altitude, agricultural production within the community is not possible. For this reason animal husbandry - in particular production of camelids — provides an important portion of residents' livelihoods. The advantages of the llama and alpaca husbandry for Andean people include their varied uses in the form of meat, fibre, faeces and the use of animals for transport. The relative importance of each purpose differsaccording to the specific regional conditions. Generally camelid husbandry generates less work for families than sheep, which are raised complementary to the camelids. hi contrast to sheep husbandry, the camelids are not guarded, but instead search forpasture independently. They are grazing natural rangelands throughout the year without any supplemental feeding. Again, in contrast to sheep, llamas and alpacas are not put into enclosures at night in our study region. The objective of the study is to understand the camelid management dependence on the natural resources, as well as the system's socio-economic aspects. The potential of available resources is analysed, while also examining limitations at the animal, human and ecological level. Based on this analysis, project proposals are developed which optimise resource allocation and thus the benefits of camelid husbandry for the animals' owners, and also conform to the communities' social needs, taking into account ecological sustainability.