External effects for the quantity and quality of fibre in Guanacos

Abstract

The study is part of a project developing sustainable use for the guanaco (Lama guanicoe). The guanaco is a wild camelid living free on the Argentine Patagonian farms. Once a year, the animal is live captured, shorn and released, and its fibre sold. The objective is to define how the amount and the quality of fibre obtained per animal can vary. The impact of some external factors on these variables of economic interest has to be determined, which is the content of this study. Sampled guanacos were trapped live, shorn and permanently tagged between 2005 and 2008, fleece weighed and fleece samples of 10 cm2 were taken from the shoulder during the captures. The analysed variables were mean fleece weight (MFW), average fibre diameter (AFD), and down yield (DY). AFD and DY were obtained using Sirolan-Laserscan (IWT012) and the Hermann and Wortmann (1997) method validated by Sacchero and Mueller (2005) respectively. All the data have been compared statistically with mean-tests and mean-tests in pairs (P<0.05). Season, rainfall and previous shearing were analysed. Significant differences were detected for rainfall and previous shearing. No significant differences were found for season. Little information was available about the quality: only the effect of rainfall could be analysed. The results tend to show a constant yield and a smaller diameter of fibre in dry conditions as happens with other species. However, it is necessary to continue monitoring these effects as guanaco could be a good use of dry territories in Patagonia.