Background and Aim: Characterizing local animal production systems is crucial for sustainable livestock development. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of goat production systems in the Highlands of Chincha province, Ica, Peru. Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire was used to gather data from 82 goat breeders in three districts: San Juan de Yanac, San Pedro de Huacarpana, and Chavín. Factor analysis of mixed data and hierarchical classification analysis were conducted to identify typologies of goat production systems using R version 4.4.2. Results: Four distinct goat production types were identified, primarily differentiated by feeding location and deworming frequency. Type 2 (41.5%) was the most prevalent, characterized by grazing on breeders own land, minimal milk production (<1 liter/day, 91.2%), and a focus on cheese and goat kid sales (70.6%). Breeders were predominantly women, with limited resources and extensive management systems. Across all types, mixed breeding was common, and economic reliance on livestock and agriculture prevailed. Conclusion: Despite their diversity, all goat production systems shared extensive management practices and resource constraints, resulting in low productivity. These findings highlight the need for targeted public policies to improve productivity and sustainability in goat farming within the Ica region. Keywords: Chincha Highlands, extensive farming, goat production systems, multivariate analysis, Peru, typology.

Background: Five hundred years ago, goats were introduced to Peru, and since then, they have adapted to different climatic conditions, giving rise to the Creole goat, characterized by showing greater rusticity and better quality in both milk and meat than specialized breeds. Aim: This study aimed to describe the phenotype of the Creole goat in the Highlands of Chincha province, Ica. Methods: A total of 146 females aged >2 years without signs of crossbreeding with specialized breeds from the districts of San Juan de Yanac, San Pedro de Huacarpana, and Chavin were evaluated. Six phaneroptic characteristics, nine morphometric characteristics, and nine zoometric indices were registered. Tables and bar graphs were prepared. The chi-square test was performed to determine the association between districts and phaneroptic variables, ANOVA to identify differences between districts, correlation coefficients to evaluate morphostructural harmonicity, and multiple regression analysis to predict the live weight of animals. Results: Of the goats, 61.6% had a spotted coat, 59.6% had no beard, 75.3% had horns, 57.5% had parallel teats, 90.4% had no wattles, and 80.8% had the correct number of teats, showing an association between district and absence/presence of beard (p = 0.001). All morphometric parameters and zoometric indices were homogeneous within each district, with differences between districts (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The Creole goat of the high Andean area of Chincha is characterized by presenting a high morphostructural harmony, being medium to large in size, brevilineal, convexilinear and having a productive aptitude with a tendency to double purpose.

Background and Aim: Hematological parameters are critical indicators of health and physiological status in goats. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of location, feeding regimen, age, and body condition score (BCS) on hematological parameters in Creole goats reared under extensive systems on the southern coast of Peru and to establish context-specific reference values. Materials and Methods: A total of 111 multiparous goats from nine herds were assessed. Red blood cell (RBC) (RBC, hematocrit, hemoglobin [HGB], mean corpuscular volume [MCV], mean corpuscular hemoglobin [MCH], and MCH concentration [MCHC]) and white blood cell (WBC) (WBC, lymphocytes, monocytes [MON], neutrophils [NEU], and eosinophils [EOS]) parameters were determined using a veterinary hematology analyzer. Robust linear regression models with MM-estimation were applied, with model selection based on Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion, and root mean square error. Correlation analyses and hierarchical clustering were also performed to explore inter-parameter relationships. Results: Significant interindividual variation was noted, particularly among leukocyte indices (EOS, MON, NEU; coefficient of variation >50%). In contrast, MCH and MCV exhibited low variability. The geographic location was not statistically significant, suggesting environmental homogeneity across the sites. Dietary composition and BCS significantly influenced several hematological indices. Goats with higher BCS and mixed alfalfa-residue diets exhibited increased HGB and RBC counts, whereas younger goats showed higher MCHC values. Predictive equations were generated to estimate hematological values under specific management conditions. Conclusion: This study highlights the relevance of age, nutritional status, and body condition in modulating hematological values in Creole goats. The derived models and reference values can inform localized diagnostic criteria and enhance decision-making in goat health management under extensive systems. Future studies should incorporate seasonal, sex-based, and longitudinal analyses to refine predictive accuracy. Keywords: body condition score, creole goat, extensive production system, feeding regimen, hematological parameters, Peru, robust regression.

Peruvian Creole goats (PCGs) represent a unique genetic resource shaped by adaptation to diverse environments and traditional breeding practices. In this study, we performed a genomic analysis of six regional populations (Ancash, Ica, Lambayeque, Lima, Piura, and Tumbes) using high-density SNP genotype data. Principal component analysis revealed a moderate genetic structure, with the Ica population showing clear separation and northern populations exhibiting overlap. Runs of homozygosity were predominantly short, and specific regions on chromosome 6 were shared across populations. Inbreeding coefficients were generally low, with Ancash showing the highest values. Linkage disequilibrium decayed rapidly over genetic distance, especially in Piura, indicating higher genetic diversity. Estimates of effective population size revealed decreasing trends across populations, with Piura maintaining the largest recent population size. These findings offer valuable insights into the population structure of Peruvian Creole goats, providing guidance for conservation and sustainable breeding efforts.

El objetivo del estudio fue contrastar los resultados del análisis proximal en los principales alimentos balanceados secos para caninos cachorros y adultos comercializados en Lima, Perú, con lo sugerido por la Asociación Americana de Funcionarios Controladores de Alimentos (AAFCO) y con el contenido nutricional correspondiente a la etiqueta de cada marca. Se realizó un muestreo no probabilístico intencional de 16 muestras provenientes de 10 marcas de alimento balanceado seco para caninos cachorros y adultos. Las muestras fueron remitidas a dos laboratorios de nutrición animal (un laboratorio analizó las muestras de alimentos para cachorros y el otro las muestras para adultos) para determinar los niveles de proteína, grasa, fibra, cenizas y humedad. Todas las muestras mostraron en su etiqueta un análisis garantizado tal como lo recomienda AAFCO; sin embargo, el análisis químico proximal evidenció algunas contradicciones, como es el caso de la grasa con niveles por debajo de lo mínimo registrado en sus etiquetas e incluso de lo mínimo recomendado por AAFCO, tanto para los alimentos para cachorros como para adultos, especialmente las categorizadas como económicas. Una de las ocho marcas de alimento para caninos adultos presentó niveles de proteína por debajo de lo mínimo registrado en su etiqueta, pero todas por encima de lo mínimo sugerido por la AAFCO. Los niveles de fibra y humedad de todas las marcas coincidieron con lo registrado en sus etiquetas. En conclusión, los alimentos balanceados secos comercializados en Lima Metropolitana y categorizados como económicos, tanto para cachorros como adultos, mostraron inconsistencia en los resultados del análisis químico proximal, principalmente en los niveles de grasa, por lo que estarían perjudicando la salud y bienestar de las mascotas caninas.

Creole goats have adapted to the harsh Andean environment, yet the physiological impacts of high-altitude production systems remain underexplored. This study assessed seasonal and dietary influences on the hematological and biochemical profiles of 45 Creole goats in the Peruvian Andes. The animals were assigned to three diets: D1 (grazing), D2 (grazing + 2000 g hay), and D3 (grazing + 400 g concentrate), across rainy and dry seasons. Biweekly blood sampling measured urea, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, ALP, ALT, WBCL, NeuP, LymP, HGB, and MCV. Season exerted the strongest influence (p < 0.001), with modest dietary effects and a consistent effect of sampling time. Urea, total protein, and albumin increased during the rainy season, though only urea responded significantly to diet. Leukocytosis rose in the dry season and with higher-protein diets, suggesting heightened immune activation under environmental stress. Hemoglobin peaked in the rainy season and early sampling, indicating better oxygenation. MCV and body weight were higher in the dry season, with weight unaffected by diet. These results underscore the complex interplay of environmental and nutritional factors in shaping goat physiology at high altitudes, emphasizing the importance of dynamic modeling in sustainable Andean livestock systems.