Peru - Animal husbandry

The cattle, sheep, hogs, goats, horses, and poultry brought by the Spaniards to Peru were strange to the Amerindians, whose only domestic animals were the hunting dog and the American members of the camel family—the llama, alpaca, and their hybrids—which served as carriers and for food, clothing, and fuel. Only recently domesticated, the vicuña is protected by law, and limited quantities of its fine fleece are marketed. Most Amerindians of the southern highlands are herders.

The southern Andes contain the major cattle ranges. Brown Swiss, zebu, and Holstein have been imported, and agronomists are crossbreeding stock to attain herds of greater weight or of more milk on less feed. Although 27.1 million hectares (66.9 million acres), or 21% of Peru's land area, are permanent natural pasture and meadow, areas suitable for dairy cattle are few. In 1998, the livestock population included 14,259,000 sheep, 4,997,000 head of cattle, 2,779,000 hogs, and 2,004,000 goats. There were also 2,755,000 alpacas and 1,074,000 llamas in 1995. Livestock output in 2001 included 138,000 tons of beef, 85,000 tons of pork, 32,000 tons of mutton, 571,000 tons of poultry, 152,000 tons of eggs, and 1,115,000 tons of milk.