11 ref.

The majority of the cattle, sheep and camels in Peru are between 2,200 to 4,500 meters above sealevel (masl) and they are in the hands of peasant commnities. Domesctic livestock are mostly criollos, indigenous animals with low levels of genetic improvement and feeding which results in low productivity. There are more than 5,000 communities that represent approximately 69 por ciento of the rural families and 30 por ciento of the total number of families in the country. Communities are autonomous organizational systems originated during the reordering of the population demanded by Virrey Toledo in the XVI century with the purpose of increasing manpower and tribute collection. Communities while the order combine agriculture with livestock raising. Individual owners maintain patterns of agricultural and livestock production that are similar to those of families belonging to communities. (MV)