”Dairy production systems in the Andes of Peru” UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AGRARIA LA MOLINA Carlos A. Gómez, PhD Presented at Justus Liebig University, Giessen on 14th July 2003

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AGRARIA LA MOLINA Main campus in Lima with 3 main research sites in the Coast, Highlands and Tropical Forest 4200 Students (85 % Undergraduates/15 % MSc level) Agronomy Food technology Agricultural engineering Forest Science Rural Economy Environmental Sciences Biology Animal Science Last year we had 100 aniversary

ANIMAL SCIENCE STUDIES Offers a BSc program of five years in Animal Science ( 50 students finish yearly) and a MSc program (50 students enrolled regulary) Teaching staff of 52 among them 18 professor

Two research groups involved in Ruminant Nutrition and pasture utilization A.-Profs. Enrique Florez and Lucrecia Aguirre 1 Associated professor 6 MSc students/ 4 BSc honors dissertation Grassland ecology Pasture-ruminant interactions in the andes

B.-Prof. Carlos Gomez 2 Associated professors/1 research associate 5 MSc students/ 6 BSc honors dissertation Beef and dairy nutrition in pasture and intensive production systems - Intensive: Nutritional evaluation of agroindustrial byproducts and cultivated forages/ Feeding strategies for small dairy producers - Pasture: Developing of appropriate feeding strategies in andes pastures (Cultivated and natural) Research supported by FAO-IAEA, ILRI, IDRC(Canada)

Natural regions in Peru

Highlands have potential for: Cropping (Potato, cereals) 4 million Has Cultivated pastures 2 million Has Native pastures20 million Has Weather (seasonal precipitation and frost) and altitude contraints Mining is the principal economic activity at present

Milk production in Peru grows up around 4% annually, due to the increased domestic demand for dairy products which are made of imported milk on aprox. 50%. Low intake of milk and derived products (42 kg percapita yearly) Three predominant systems: Coast Highlands Mixed/crop Pastoral

Costal low performance dairy production

Structure of milk-producing farm types (in Ha) and market destination for milk in Peru

Milk production in main regions of Peru

Important activities in the highlands Mining Agricultural production Livestock production South American camelids including vicugna Sheep Cattle (dairy / Beef) Imported milk powder is more expensive than regionally collected milk, thanks to Peru’ current (effective) import taxation scheme.

Agriculture limited by: Frost events Temperature Water supply Slope Andean crops (potatoes, Quinua, Corn)

Limited activities in order to evaluate or improve geneticaly cattle in the andes. Originally the “criollo” type of cattle from Spain Need to use new technologies for this purpose. New goverment program in Peru jointly prepared with FAO to preserve and improve animal resources

Dairy in mixed farm systems ( masl) Dairy production and beef prefattening Utilization of agricultural byproducts (barley straw, maize stover) and cultivated pastures (alfalfa, rye grass trifolium) B.Swiss, Holstein Genotype kg of milk per lactation

Main issues * Evaluation of appropriate strategies to improve nutritive value of agricultural byproducts and overcome dry season effects * Evaluation of supplementary feeding (concentrates- cultivated forage for silage making) * Genotype-environment interaction * Parasites diseases (Gastrointestinal and respiratory)

Dairy in cultivated pastures ( masl) BSwiss genotype (1-3 head/ha) kg/milk/lactation

Chemical composition (% D.M.) of rye grass x trifolium pasture

Change of native to cultivated pasture

Fertilization strategies

Phosphorous content (%) in pasture Rye grass / Trifolium Díaz, 2001

Fertilization with phosphorous: Nutritive value of Rye grass / Trifolium Díaz, 2001

Main issues * Evaluation of improved pasture species different to available at present including rzyobium * Selection of appropriate grazing strategies(Stocking rate/grazing pressure) * Evaluation of supplementary feeding (concentrates- cultivated forage for silage making) * Genotype-environment interaction * Parasites diseases (Gastrointestinal and respiratory)

Dairy in native pastures ( masl) Criollo X B.Swiss genotype ( head/ha) Suckling calf kg/milk/lactation

Native pasture includes species. No possibility for other crops sucesfully Land use mostly under comunal management Strong effect of dry vs rainy season of the year on productivity and nutritive value

Alpaca and llama Sheep

Vicugna

Protein and mineral content of native pastures

Deteriorating effects of mining on pastures in the highlands

Main issues * Dry season undernutrition/Nutrition-reproductive performance interaction Multinutrient supplementation Utilization of block Urea-molasses-Minerals Strategic use of cultivated pastures to complement animals during certain times of the year/Introduction of improved species in the range * Soil conservation (Overgrazing) Development of apropriate stocking rate and grazing management * Genotype-environment interaction * Parasites diseases (Gastrointestinal and respiratory)

Danke schoen Muchas gracias