Browsing by Subject "Functions"

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Functions and selection criteria for a llama population in the Bolivian Andes
(2010) Markemann, André; Valle Zárate, Anne
Bolivia accounts for more than 60% of the llama population worldwide and more than 50,000 smallholder families in marginal areas are dedicated to llama husbandry as part of their livelihood strategy. To this day, llamas substantially contribute to the economic and social life of smallholder Andean communities, providing food and fibre, fuel and transport, and fulfil other cultural, social and capital functions. Although this multi-purpose contribution has been widely recognised, llamas have not yet been subject to systematic breeding activities in the Andean region. For the establishment of sound and sustainable breeding programmes, it is crucial to identify the contribution of the numerous non-market traits and functions of llamas to the breeding objective. The present study was conducted within a long-term collaboration project in the Ayopaya region and aimed at evaluating the important functions, roles and traditional selection criteria of llamas, intending to contribute to formerly missing information for the formalisation of an appropriate breeding objective. Data was collected in seven highland communities of the north-western Ayopaya province in the Cochabamba department, Bolivia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 47 households in three communities. Questionnaires contained information on llama herd structure and management, animal selection and selection criteria. In addition, information from llama registers and previous research results were included for comparison and crosschecking. Verbatim noted selection criteria were evaluated by a relative weighting on an ordinal scale. A ranking approach with ten functions of llama keeping presented by illustrations was performed with 75 farmers in six communities. A rank-based t-test was applied for multiple pair-wise comparisons within ranking groups according to gender and community provenance. Between-group comparison was performed by non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. A choice experiment (CE) was designed on basis of the results of the evaluation of stated selection criteria for llama breeding males. In total, five attributes and a payment vehicle were included in the CE. A total of 32 different llama profiles were selected from the full factorial design. The profiles were further blocked into pairs of two, resulting in eight choice sets with two alternatives and an opt-out alternative, which were presented to 159 farmers in seven communities. Data analysis was performed using LIMDEP 8.0 NLOGIT 3.0 applying a mixed logit model (MXL). According to farmers? rankings, the major functions of llama keeping in the Ayopaya region are herd size as a capital asset and transportation, the latter highlighting the role and value of livestock in a mixed system and their integration into cropping activities, but also the persisting value of animal transport in marginal regions despite infrastructure development and decline of barter trade. The high importance of the transport capability of llamas is reflected in the body conformation as a frequently stated selection criterion. Other precisely defined and highly valued criteria were well-developed testicles, fibre quantity and quality and fleece colour. The high-rated testicle conformation in combination with little or no selection on the female side is promoting the maintenance of a sufficient herd size, which is indirectly assuring a convenient capital investment. Maximum likelihood estimates of the MXL showed the expected signs for all attributes. Highest simulated WTP values were observed for very fine fibre animals. Further, a llama with a single-coloured fleece is valued more than a spotted one and bigger animals are preferred over smaller ones. The body and testicle conformation traits receive a negative value, typically denominated willingness to accept (WTA) compensation. Highest aversion of farmers is expressed towards animals with unequal testicles, followed by small testicles and crooked legs. However, the 25th and 75th percentiles of the WTP estimates point to considerable preference variation within the respondent population that could not be sufficiently captured by the included demographic characteristics in the MXL model. The presented mixed-methodological approach was able to partly describe the complexity and multi-functionality of llamas in marginal highland farming systems in Bolivia. The different approaches allowed yielding more insights in the relative importance of the functions the animals fulfil for their herders and the predominant selection criteria considered for breeding animals. The special importance of marketable and non-marketable benefits of llamas in Bolivia due to smallholder?s multiple objectives has been quantified in monetary terms. With regard to the formalisation of a breeding objective for llamas in the Bolivian highlands, the findings suggest the incorporation of the traditionally important selection criteria of farmers in parallel to the commercially interesting fibre trait. As long as no proper price information from functioning national fibre markets is available, an economic weighting of the fibre quality trait on basis of WTP estimates appears a reasonable alternative. There is need for additional work and research on the genetic correlations, apart from the existent phenotypic calculations, between fibre quality and quantity to identify possible auxiliary traits to facilitate recording and implementation. The derivation of economic weights for traits from choice experiments to be incorporated in animal breeding selection indices remains a challenge. In parallel, the market development for llama products should be sequentially monitored, while shortcomings and constraints on the producer level, the institutional level and the policy level have to be considered.