Llamas, llama production and llama nutrition in the Ecuador highlands

Llama and alpaca are less numerous in Ecuador than in their main distribution areas in Bolivia and Perú but they are an important part of the high altitude ecosystems, known as the ʹparamoʹ, where they contribute substantially to human welfare. Until recently they have been subject to little study but there is now an increasing interest in improving their productivity. This paper is a brief introduction to the ʹparamoʹ environment and the productivity and nutrition of the llama in Ecuador