THE cross-breed from the artificially inseminated (AI) “British Texel” sheep will be available to farmers early next month, National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) Director, Dr. Oudho Homenauth said.

The development which will see an increased number of the sheep on hand for sales follows NARI’s move to expand the AI programme countrywide this years. Homenauth had previously indicated that several farmers in Regions Two (Pomeroon/ Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/ Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara/ Berbice) are part of the programme.

NARI has received technical support from a team of United Kingdom experts and rams from the initial project will be distributed to the herders.

According to Homenauth, in 2008, 201 ewes were inseminated at several locations, including NARI and Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, Silver Hill, in Linden and Hogg Island, in Essequibo.

Government has upgraded and replanted some 50 acres of fresh pasture at NARI in 2008 to aid the sheep development programme.

Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh in this year’s budget reported that the livestock sector enjoyed a 7.4 per cent growth last year. (Tajeram Mohabir)