J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1988. 66:1139-1143.
© 1988 American Society of Animal Science
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Factors Affecting Survival in Young Alpacas (Lama pacos)1,2,

A. V. Bustinza3, P. J. Burfening4 and R. L. Blackwell4

Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru and Montana State University, Bozeman 59717

Abstract

Factors affecting survival of young from birth to weaning (7 mo) in alpacas (Lama pacos) were evaluated in data collected at the Estacion Experimental de Camelidos Sudamericanos La Raya in the Altiplano region of Peru. Age of dam effects on survival rate were curvilinear; survival rate increased from approximately 78% for offspring of 3-yr-old dams to about 91% for those from 9- to 11-yr-old dams, then declined to about 85% for 15-yr-old dams. Weight of dam measured 2 mo prior to parturition was associated negatively with survival of the young (b = –.7%/kg). Alpaca born early in the season of birth had a higher survival rate than those born late; the regression of survival on birth date was –.2%/d. Survival rates were curvilinearly related with birth weight and were highest at weights of 9 to 11 kg (90%) and lowest at weights of 4 to 5 kg (20% to 40%). The estimated heritabilities of survival and birth weight were .10 ± .17 and .34 ± .23, weight was –.18 ± .82; the corresponding environmental and phenotypic correlations were positive (.37 and .26, respectively).

Footnotes

1 This study was supported, in part, by the United States Agency for Int. Dev., Title XII Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Program under Grant No. DAN-1328-G-SS-4093-00. Contribution No. 2046 from Montana Agric. Exp. Sta.

2 The assistance of Kathy Hanford in data analysis is acknowledged.

3 Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru. Support provided by a Fulbright Research Award, Council for International Exchange of Scholars is gratefully acknowledged.

4 Dept. of Anim & Range Sci., Montana State Univ., Bozeman 59717.






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Copyright © 1988 by the American Society of Animal Science.