Advancing Sustainable Livestock Research: IBERS and UNALM Forge Global Partnerships

The IBERS team with Prof Carlos Gomez (in the red sweatshirt) and Prof Javier Ñaupari (blue jacket) from UNALM, plus Robert from the Huascarán National Park

IBERS’ Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre Strengthens Research Ties with Peru’s Leading Agricultural University

Staff from IBERS’ Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre recently visited the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM), one of Peru’s premier higher education institutions. The team, comprising Professor Mariecia Fraser, Iolo Davies, and Eirian Richards, along with Professor Jon Moorby from IBERS’ Gogerddan campus, spent a week engaging with animal and rangeland scientists from UNALM and partner organisations to explore current and future research collaborations.

Funded by UKRI’s Global Challenges Research Fund, the visit focused on three key areas for collaborative development:

1. Benchmarking livestock performance and greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Sustainable improvement of grasslands through reseeding.
3. Adoption of new technologies for data-driven management decisions.

These priorities were first identified during a 2019 workshop led by Professor Fraser, which brought a group from IBERS together with stakeholders from across the Andean region, including Bolivia and Ecuador.

Diverse Livestock Systems and Research Opportunities

Livestock production in Peru encompasses a wide range of species. UNALM’s main campus in Lima houses research and teaching facilities for sheep, cattle, pigs, poultry, goats, alpacas, guinea pigs, and rabbits. This was the base for the first half of the visit, where the team reviewed ongoing research projects and identified potential opportunities for collaboration.

Research connections between Pwllpeiran and UNALM have centred on sheep and alpaca production systems. Traditionally, Andean sheep have been bred primarily for wool; however, declining wool prices have shifted the research focus towards improving ewe fertility, lamb survival, nutrient use efficiency, and overall performance.

Exploring High-Altitude Farming Systems

In the second half of their visit, the group travelled to the edge of Huascarán National Park, where they observed high-altitude farming systems and met with scientists and rangers from the Mountain Research Institute. The grazing pastures in these regions are often nutritionally poor, creating significant challenges for livestock health and productivity. However, there is substantial potential to improve forage quality, which could, in turn, enhance the health and welfare of livestock. The team identified opportunities to achieve this by introducing carefully selected grasses and legumes into managed enclosures, though overcoming challenges such as limited resources and equipment will be essential.

Alpacas, a vital source of dietary protein and income, are raised by communities living at high altitudes in Peru, often above 4,000 m. These altitudes are considered unsuitable for sheep. As pseudo-ruminants, camelids such as alpacas possess a three-chambered digestive system that differs from the four-chambered stomachs of true ruminants like sheep. Pwllpeiran researchers plan to collaborate with UNALM staff and students to compare the digestive efficiency and methane emissions of alpacas and sheep, particularly when fed the high-fibre diets typical of Andean grasslands. This research aims to improve the understanding of the nutritional demands of alpacas, thereby reducing the high mortality rates of newborn cria (baby alpacas) in remote regions.

Towards a Sustainable Future

The collaboration between IBERS and UNALM aims to develop sustainable, resilient solutions for farmers in high-altitude regions worldwide, including the Andes and upland areas of the UK. Through continued partnership and innovative research, the goal is to enhance livestock health and productivity while supporting the livelihoods of rural communities.

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