Perezgrovas, R.

El artÝculo describe una investigaci¾n para determinar la calidad de lana entre hembras y sementales ovinos de la regi¾n de San Juan Chamula, Chiapas, MÚxico. La investigaci¾n se hizo utilizando la filosofÝa y mÚtodos del DRP, con pastoras indÝgenas (Tzotziles) como protagonistas. Las pastoras son las que crian por costumbre el llamado "borrego de Chiapas". Los investigadores del Centro de Estudios de la UNACH y del Depto. de GenÚtica y EstadÝstica de la Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria de la UNAM trabajaron algunos mÚtodos del DRP con un grupo de pastoras.

Sheep have been reared by the Tzotzil Indians in Highland Chiapas in southern Mexico for over 450 years. Following the failure of various government programmes intended to raise productivity, this study tried a new approach to improving sheep husbandry management. The researchers followed the herds, making observations and interviewing the shepherdesses individually. Previous programmes had failed because of a lack of understanding of the culture of the Tzotzil Indians, in which sheep are viewed as sacred animals.