Better animals mean better meat
GLDA’s Mr Nigel Cumberbatch
GLDA’s Mr Nigel Cumberbatch

–agriculture official says, as Guyana forges ahead with plan to revive livestock industry

THERE is no turning back this year for the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), as it will be going full steam ahead with plans to boost livestock production, particularly where sheep are concerned.
And the way they plan going about it is by Artificial Insemination (AI). As GLDA’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Nigel Cumberbatch explained, artificial insemination is nothing new, as it’s been tried here before, but not in sheep.

There were successful pilots in the past, he said, in Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Five (Mahaica-Berbice), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), Nine ) Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice).

“We were able to close 2017 with many successes in our cattle, swine and goat AI programmes,” Cumberbatch said, adding:
“This year is no exception, as we will be commencing our AI in [the] sheep programme. Last year we were able to acquire three Katahdin rams through funding from the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)’s Agricultural Policy Programme (APP).”

The Katahdin is a breed of domestic sheep developed in Maine, in the north-eastern United States and named after Mount Katahdin, the highest peak in that state. They’re a cross between the St Croix variety of sheep and various other breeds such as the Suffolk, and are highly favoured because of their resistance to parasites, a trait inherited from their Caribbean ancestry.

The three acquired by GLDA cost a healthy US$9000, but the ultimate goal is to aid with the authority’s Genetic Improvement and Stock Breeding Programmes.
But to get back to the subject of artificial insemination, Cumberbatch said that for last year alone, the GLDA treated some 2186 animals, among them cattle, pigs and small ruminants in Regions Two to Six and Nine and 10. And the plan this year is to do even more, as many as 3718.

Agriculture Minister Mr Noel Holder has time and again spoken of the government’s commitment to resuscitating the livestock industry, to better position local farmers to not only be self-sufficient here at home, but to also compete on the regional and international markets.
Said he just recently, “GLDA continues to take the leading role in restoring Guyana’s cattle and livestock industry.

“This move to commence artificial insemination in sheep will see farmers being able to grow their herds, while playing a significant role in developing the industry.
“The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to work with regional and international partners to acquire and introduce new species of animals through our genetic improvement programme.”

Another plus in the Katahdin’s favour is that it has a relatively low mortality rate, is low-maintenance, and has the ability to produce superior lamb crops. They also possess lean but meaty carcasses, which will allow for higher market weight and, if managed carefully, require minimal parasitical treatment.
According to GLDA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Dwight Waldron, the authority is moving to have farmers countrywide benefit from top-quality semen, and as early as possible.

Said he: “The bulls are now mature; we have carried out some amount of extraction training, and we’ll soon commence extraction.
“Once this process is completed and the rainy season ends, we will start making the semen available to farmers across the country.”

Dr Waldron said that for Guyana to enhance its economy and ensure food security, then producing animals of a better size, and meat of a better quality remains vital.
Over the past years, there was an increase in the importation of animals for the purpose of creating better breeds.

Last year, the GLDA recorded 21 successful embryo transplants, and is working to surpass the 2018 target of 240.

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