A daily passion

DIANE Cheefoon, the largest female cattle farmer in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), devotes her life to rearing and breeding cows with her husband, Floyd Cheefoon—a fellow cattle farmer, who acts as his own veterinary, due to experience on the farm —and their three sons. She related that it is a generational business which was passed down to her, in the family tree, for decades, and she is the fourth generation involved in cattle farming.

Cheefoon told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is from the Singh family of Airy Hall, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, and her husband, a Cheefoon, is from Lovely Lass Village, West Coast Berbice. He, too, is from a family of cattle farmers.

She explained that her spouse inherited cattle rearing, and when he was just two days old, his grandfather, who was heavily invested in cattle farming, gifted him a heifer. His father kept it for him until he was of age.

At age 22, when he got married, it was handed over to him. He started his married life with that lone heifer and was able to build on it, with support from his wife, who also had cows to add.

Cheefoon said they have 5,000 acres of shared savannah land, which is community land in the backdam of Lovely Lass Village, where they keep their cows. The milking cows and a small number are housed at their home.

The female cattle farmer added that they have in excess of 300 cows, all of which are white, unlike regular cows. Often, she would sleep in the backdam with her husband to rear the cows and keep watch, warding off cattle rustling.

Cheefoon pointed out that they have no workers — it is just them: herself, her spouse, and three sons, one of whom is a jockey who competes in horse races.

She related that they all can ride the three horses they have, and these are utilised to cover distance when going into the backdam to tend to their cows.

In addition, they also rear sheep and ducks, and parting with the cows — all of which have names — is the most difficult part of cattle rearing, since she is attached to all the animals on her farm.

Cheefoon explained that when the cows are sold, it is hard for her to be present; she cannot face it, but it must happen.

The cattle farmer stated that even when she was pregnant, she refused to stay home. She would ride her horse into the backlands to tend to the cows, as it was something she couldn’t stay away from.

Cheefoon reported that she loves animals, and when the cows die or are sold, she becomes sad to see them go. Her spouse would often tell her not to name the cows, but she does it anyway, and it is a habit, she admits.

The 43-year-old disclosed that they were gifted an American bull four years ago, when a batch of 64 were imported via the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), and that this new addition caused the herd to grow rapidly within a short space of time; their herd multiplied quickly.

Cheefoon said she is grateful for the gift cow, which is massive in size and unlike any other bull, and it has given them a faster income because the six-week-old bulls can be sold. She noted that they also rear breeding cattle, and she loves what she does as a female cattle farmer.

As a woman in agriculture, Cheefoon pointed out that she was also gifted nine black giant chickens, which are used as layers. She doesn’t have to buy eggs, and they also received black belly sheep a year ago. She also grows her own herbs in her kitchen garden at home to avoid buying them at the market.

Cheefoon revealed that her spouse is well-versed in cattle rearing due to years of experience, and this knowledge is passed on to their sons: Daniel, the jockey; Joseph; and the eldest, David. Together, they run a smooth farm at Lovely Lass Village.

“Me and my family grew up in cattle farming; this is what we know. We are not troubled by the work it entails since we love it, and the children are also part of it, so we have no need to employ workers. This is our way of life — simplicity,” Cheefoon said.