Tropentag, September 16 - 18, 2026, Göttingen "Towards multi-functional agro-ecosystems promoting climate-resilient futures"

Maternal nutrition, offspring performance and alpaca resilience in Andean agroecosystems

¹Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM), School of Animal Science, Peru
²Pennsylvania State University, State College, United States

Abstract

Introduction: Alpacas are central to livelihoods and food security in Andean pastoral systems, where regional variation in natural pasture quality may affect maternal condition, neonatal performance, and adaptive capacity in extensive livestock systems. In these extensive systems, protein availability and forage composition fluctuate markedly, potentially influencing colostrum quality and offspring development. This study evaluated the relationship between protein nutrition from natural pastures, colostral immunity, and dam–cria performance in primiparous and multiparous alpacas from three regions of Peru.

Materials and methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted in Junín, Cusco and Puno using 150 pregnant Huacaya alpacas (50 per region; 25 primiparous and 25 multiparous). Colostrum, maternal blood and cria blood samples were collected around parturition to assess immunological and nutritional indicators, including serum metabolites associated with protein status. Diet quality was characterised through hand-plucked pasture simulation and proximate analysis, including crude protein and neutral detergent fiber. Maternal body condition, neonatal vigour indicators, and productive variables of the dam–cria pair were recorded. Cria growth was monitored during the first month of life through repeated weight measurements.

Results: Marked regional and parity-related differences were observed. Multiparous alpacas, particularly in Junín, showed greater body weight and body condition, while their crias presented higher birth weights and shorter time to first suckling, indicating greater neonatal vigour. Pastures from Junín also had higher crude protein content, reflecting superior nutritional quality. In addition, cria follow-up during the first month indicated more favourable weight gain under better maternal nutritional conditions. Overall, improved nutrition was associated with enhanced dam–cria performance and indicators consistent with improved passive immunity potential.

Conclusions: Nutritional quality of high-Andean pastures influenced maternal condition, neonatal performance and early cria growth, with better outcomes in multiparous alpacas under superior feeding conditions. These findings highlight the relevance of nutritional management for productivity, offspring survival, resilience and sustainability in extensive pastoral livestock systems. They further support the contribution of pastoral livestock management to multifunctional Andean agroecosystems.

Keywords: Alpacas, maternal nutrition, passive immunity, pastoral systems, regional variability, resilience

Contact Address: Ana Belén Obregón-Cruz, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Graduate School, Doctoral Program in Animal Nutrition, Av. La Molina s/n, La Molina, +51 Lima, Peru, e-mail: abobregoncgmail.com