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THE CRIOLLO SHEEP IN PERU

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

Peter J. Burfening
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Range Sciences, Montana State University Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA
Juan Chavez C
Affiliation:
Universidad Nacional Agraria, La Molina, Lima, PERU
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Summary

There are approximately ffteen million sheep in Peru, with more than 50% of this population being located in peasant communities and considered to be Criollo. Sheep were introduced by the Spanish, producing an almost complete displacement of the native camelid population. These animals were the foundation of the Criollo sheep presently found in the peasant communities of the Peruvian Andes. The Criollo sheep has a typically pear-shaped body, with a relatively small head, most often with horns. Productive characteristics among the Criollo sheep in the sierra are highly variable and depend mainly on the locations where they were raised. Criollo sheep andtheir crosses with improved breeds show a higher survival rate than crosses among the improved breeds of sheepin Peru. This indicates that although not as productive in conventional terms (weaning weight or fleece production) the criollo are well adapted to their environment.

Resumen

Existen aproximadamente 15 millones de ovinos en Perú y más del 50% del efectivo se considera Criollo y se encuentra en las comunidades rurales. Los ovinos fueron introducidos por los españoles, desplazando así la población local de camélidos. Para las comunidades campesinas peruanas de los Andes estos animales eran la base que representan ahora los ovinos de raza Criolla. La raza Criolla presenta un cuerpo típicamente en forma de pera, con una cabeza relativamente pequeña, a menudo con cuernos. Las características de producción de los ovinos Criollos de la sierra son altamente variables y dependen principalmente de las localidades donde se crían. Los ovinos Criollos y sus cruces con razas mejoradas muestran un mayor índice de supervivencia en comparaci ón con los cruces obtenidos con las razas mejoradas del Perú. Esto indica que, a pesar de no ser muy productivas desde el punto de vista convencional (peso al destete y producción de lana), la raza Criollo está bien adaptadaa su entorno.

Information

Type
Research Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 1996

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