Some 24 farmers countrywide have benefitted from the sale of a batch of Texana rams developed from an artificial insemination (AI) programme spearheaded by the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI) at a reduced cost.

The Texana is a cross between the Texel male and/or the Barbados Blackbelly, Virgin White Island White and Barbados Black Belly crossed female.

Some of the Texel sheep sold. (Sonell Nelson photo)

The animals were sold at $60,000 per head, $ 140,000 less than the cost to import one of rams.

NARI Director, Dr Oudho Homenauth, speaking at a ceremony convened at the NARI compound in Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, pointed out that the activity is another success story in the many ongoing initiatives in the agriculture sector.

The initiative was conceived some two years ago following discussions with Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud and former British High Commissioner to Guyana Mr. Fraser Wheeler.

Stemming from the talks, executives from the British Texel Sheep Society, compliments of the British High Commission, visited Guyana to explore the possibility of introducing the breed here.

From the visit an agreement was reached to initiate the next phase of the project, which included the acquisition of semen and Texel embryos to be used on selected local flocks.

And in February, 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed between the British Texel Sheep Society and NARI to introduce the Texel breed here.

Acting President Samuel Hinds, left, and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud with one of the new breed.

“Appropriate and relevant bio technological methods were selected for the introduction of this breed. The methods I am referring to are embryo transplants and laparoscopic insemination. I believe it was the first time this type of AI was done on a large scale in sheep in Guyana,” the NARI Director disclosed.

He said NARI has been able to introduce two breeds from this technology, the Texana and pure bred Texel which will remain under the control of NARI for the time being.

With respect to embryo transplant, the scientist explained better use is made of the elite mother through the harvesting of embryos and for low productive mothers through implants and improved acclimatisation.

He expressed kudos to the British High Commission, the Department for International Development (DFID), the UK technicians who visited Guyana, and local veterinarians and staff of the Livestock Department for making the initiative possible.

Mr. Wheeler’s wife, Mrs. Sarah Wheeler, who was delighted to be present at the sale of the first set of Texana rams, underlined the object of the project has always been to cross breed the Barbados Black Belly with a top quality British Texel to produce a bigger, leaner carcass with higher meat yield and quality cuts for export.

The quality of the produce, Mrs. Wheeler emphasised, in the first year has exceeded her expectations.

She said too the initiative supports President Jagdeo’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

“The local sheep genetics ability to supply more meat means there is a better supply of meat (protein) per animal. If you then factor in the CO2 emissions, then in fact Texanas will make the local sheep more efficient protein producers per kilogramme CO2 emitted.

“Fast growing Texel/Texanas are in fact very green,” Mrs. Wheeler said.

According to her, the British Texels out performs the growth rate of any other Texel phenotype (Canadian, Dutch and American), and have outstanding vigour, versatility, and ability to significantly increase the lean meat yield production from all maternal lines.

“The Texana has taken on these qualities but maintained the adaptability to the tropical climate and hardiness of the Barbados Black Belly. I think they will significantly outperform any Dorper or Santanese crosses in high quality yield,” she posited.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said the initiative is part of a wider programme to scale up the livestock industry; and another 10 from the Dubulay farm, and a further dozen from NARI and the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) will be available shortly.

The AI programme, he said, will be extended to the Rupununi shortly and the next phase of the project would be done in February next year.

Persaud explained that in the interim, the use of pure bred Texel rams at NARI would be used for breeding and his ministry is looking at the possibility of producing the embryos and semen locally.

The minister warned too that the animals will be repossessed if the farmers fail to comply with the conditions stipulated in the sales agreement.

Apart from the Texel Sheep project, the local swine breed was also augmented with improved stocks from the USA and neighbouring Suriname.

Many farmers have benefitted under this programme and Persaud announced that 52 more farmers, mostly in the hinterland, will soon be beneficiaries.

Over the years, improvements have also been made to the cattle and goat industries and Persaud underscored that these developments are in keeping with Government’s thrust to build a modern agriculture sector that will serve as a model to the Caribbean.

Acting President Samuel Hinds said the Government is steadfastly committed to transforming the agriculture sector, and on that noted, he lauded Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler and the other players for their support.