Conservation & local programs

Restoring the black alpaca population in Peru

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Abstract

The objectives were: a) to analyze color segregation in the black alpaca population, b) to analyze fiber diameter (FD) and fleece weight (FW) in black alpacas, and c) to estimate the genetic parameters of colorimetry values and their correlation with FD and FW in black alpacas. The pedigree file included 17,184 animals recorded between 1992 and 2025. A total of 5,091 colorimetry records, 5,825 fiber diameter records, and 3,467 fleece weight records from black alpacas. These records corresponded to 4,565 alpacas, measured between 2018 and 2024. The coat color was analyzed under the CIELAB space with axes for lightness (L*), red-green (a*), and yellow-blue (b*). Animal age ranged from 0.1 to 15.3 years. Black alpacas can be born mainly from reddish black (41.18%) and from full black (71%). The heritability values for colorimetry traits for black alpaca were very low (0.01 to 0.04), and significant correlations were found between FD-L* (-0.55), FD-a* (-0.99), FD-b* (-0.94), and FW-L* (0.31). Black alpacas offer a commercial opportunity that can be exploited for the benefit of their conservation. Selection could be based on colorimetry values as a selection criterion, especially L* and b* values.

Keywords: 2026

How to Cite:

Cruz, A., Cayllahua, R., Yucra, A., Burgos, A., Gutiérrez-Reynoso, G. & Gutiérrez, J., (2026) “Restoring the black alpaca population in Peru”, World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production Digital Archive 2026(1): 2287080. doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/wcgalp.24207

Rights: 1