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Goat breeding in Peru is one of the main activities of smallholders. Goats are distributed in different agroecological zones and regions of the country, developing under heterogeneity of production systems, making it difficult to understand goat breeders’ socioeconomic, technological, and productive situations. This study aimed to characterize and typify the goat production systems in the highlands of southeast Peru. A survey was conducted with 91 goat farmers from five districts of Ayacucho, Peru, using a structured and individualized questionnaire administered on their farms. The socio-economic, productive, and commercial characteristics of the goat production systems were recorded. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and hierarchical classification analysis (HCA) were performed to establish a typology of the smallholders. The results reveal that the breeding system is extensive, where there is no breeding program, with natural pastures and crop stubble being the source of food for the herds. Only slightly more than half (54%) carry out a deworming program. Farmers were categorized into three different groups, corresponding to three different farming systems: Group 1 farmers raised goats solely for home consumption; Group 2 breeders raised goats for both consumption and marketing of surplus products (cheese, milk, and meat), and Group 3 farmed focused on producing cheese and goat kids and selling to local markets. The study provides valuable insights that will help design effective breeding strategies to develop sustainable goat farming in the region, considering different production systems and their respective socio-economic and trade dynamics. This classification will be essential for tailoring development programs to the specific needs of each group, promoting better use of resources, improving productivity, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder goat producers in Peru.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics and typification of Creole goats in five localities of the Ayacucho region in south-central Peru. Materials and Methods: Data from 149 goats (25 males and 124 females) were collected, excluding animals under 2 years of age, pregnant, and sick. Seven qualitative characteristics and 11 zometric measurements were evaluated, and then 9 zometric indices were estimated. Results: In the region, goats with composite colors predominated (76.50%). Additionally, supernumerary (24.20%) and divergent teats (22.60%) were observed in females, while males exhibited a scrotal bifurcation (32.00%). The origin of the flock had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on body measurements, as well as on pelvic index, transverse pelvic index, longitudinal pelvic index, compactness index, and load cannon bone index, except for body index (BOI), proportionality index, dactyl thorax index (DTI), and relative cannon bone thickness index (p > 0.05). In the Ayacucho region, there is a predominance of light animals (57.72%) with a significant DTI (p < 0.05) among the populations, including goats with good balance and capable of walking long distances. Furthermore, there are compact animals (47.65%) with a significant BOI (p < 0.05) among the flock populations, which animals are of the biotype of meat. Conversely, the strongest positive correlation (r = 0.89) was discovered between chest girth and body weight. Conclusion: In the Ayacucho region, there are various creole goat biotypes range from light to very compact heavy goats, with a predominance of meat biotype animals, as well as a marked size dimorphism between localities of origin. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2024; 11(2.000): 494-502]

El Altiplano peruano presenta pérdidas crecientes de fertilidad, siendo a su vez susceptible a una erosión natural. Durante muchos años, un manejo agrícola convencional ha generado pérdidas de la capa superficial del suelo y deterioro de sus propiedades, teniendo gran impacto en el rendimiento de los cultivos y profundizando la degradación de este ecosistema vulnerable. El propósito de esta investigación fue evaluar el uso de cultivos de cobertura frente a la erosión, salud del suelo y rendimiento del cultivo de quinua. El ensayo se realizó en las localidades Huancarani y Cahualla, distrito Mañazo, provincia y región Puno. Se utilizó un diseño experimental de bloques completos al azar (DBCA) con cuatro tratamientos: sin cobertura y con coberturas de trébol (Medicago hispida G.), vicia (Vicia villosa) y mulch. Los resultados mostraron que la quinua asociada con coberturas de trébol, mulch y vicia redujeron la erosión del suelo en 59,61%, 51,87% y 49,50%, respectivamente. Asimismo, el uso de coberturas de trébol y vicia aumentó el carbono orgánico (+29,71% y 31,16%) y nitrógeno (+36,94% y 48,65%), y con el trébol, el fósforo disponible (+26,11%). Finalmente, la cobertura de trébol aumentó en 17% el rendimiento de la quinua en grano y redujo significativamente la erosión del suelo. Estos resultados muestran que los cultivos de cobertura presentan gran potencial para el restablecimiento de la salud del suelo y mejora en el rendimiento.