Situación actual de la producción ovina en el Ecuador.

Abstract

This research objective was to analyze the technical information in academic networks on the current situation of sheep production in Ecuador, this study worked with information obtained from the bibliographic base of 10 years ago, agricultural censuses (INEC- ESPAC), FAOSTAT projections (2010-2019), MAG reports and repositories (ESPOCH, ESPE, UG, UTC, UTA, UTMACH) of undergraduate and graduate degree works and scientific articles. The sheep population in 2019 is 464,644 heads, about to the year 2017- 2018 has increased by 19.1% and 30.6%, the provinces with the highest production are Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, and Azuay due to the sheep repopulation with the 4M breed in 2016, the production system is based on grazing, with natural mating and low sanitary control for the most part. Sheep go on sale according to age and weight; for large animals aged 17 months, weighing 72 pounds cost $ 104.60, these being variable by the physical and healthy animal condition; for the meat sale, the cost per pound is $ 2.20 to $ 3, skin $.2.38 guts $ 10.80 each one. Wool production has had a positive effect since with the 4M breed it has been possible to obtain a price per kg of $ 1.20 to $ 1.50 for its quality. It is concluded that an alternative in sheep production is the improvement through the application of reproductive biotechnology to the creole ecotype with the 4M breed or specific for each purpose, taking advantage of its best characteristics. Technical management of the animals introduced in sheep restocking is recommended through the training and education of livestock technicians in the communities.