CWA meeting on Developing an Efficient and Inclusive Value Chain

During the 2023 Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) which was held in the Bahamas last month.  Dr. Chere Kellman, Veterinary Officer attached to the Veterinary and Livestock Division attended an efficient and added value chain meeting pertaining to ruminants specifically “SHEEP”.  The regional consensus voiced at this forum was that our sheep population was of a leaner and smaller stature than those in other regions.  Some present, were adamant that though the grass in this region was weather resistant they were questionable doubts pertaining to the quality of nutrition sustenance that was offered to the grazing animals. Although in the Caribbean, grass was mainly cut and carried to the animals they were not achieving the desired size and weight when compared to those in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom.

Further, others complained others countries like Antigua and Barbuda shared that there has been a drastic reduction in the Sheep populous and a decline in the need or consumption by meat lovers.  The lack of demand therefore has put a reduction or the lack of interest for farmers to be rearing sheep compared to goats or cattle.  On Antigua and Barbuda, it is observed that the majority of mutton is consumed by the Lebanese/Syrians communities and tourists.  Dr. Gabriella Young did a presentation on Goats, though there were similarities all agreed that there were more demand for goat meat.

This forum was more or less a round table information sharing discussion.  Matters discussed:

  • Demand of mutton
  • Supplying demands
  • Local production
  • Importation of the Black Belly and Blackhead Persian
  • Purchasing of a grass forage harvester
  • Intensive sheep farming
  • Improving gene pool
  • Intensive Sheep Farming
  • Use of harvester
  • Training sessions

Some practices were not relevant for Antigua and Barbuda due to the fact that the industry in places like Barbados was larger and on a different level than the one existed here. “There is a lot of room to develop the sector, in spite of the existing constraints like Praedial larceny, there is new identification system recently introduced.  Additionally, other than foliage silage could also be added to the ruminants’ diet so that they can increase in size”, Kellman added.