Small Ruminants
Programme Overview
CARDI, under the CARICOM Regional Transformation Programme for Agriculture, now being operationalised by the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’, has lead responsibility for the development of regional small ruminant industry. CARDI's small ruminants programme uses the commodity value chain approach (Figure 1) to pursue the development of the regional industry. The Institute’s contribution towards this effort is through research and development in nutrition, health, breeding and production systems. The main objective of the programme is to increase production and productivity at the farm level in order to increase the local supply of quality meat and meat-products and to enhance competitiveness. The major CARDI centres for research and development in small ruminants are Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The current work in these countries includes research into the development of feeding systems, especially forage-based feeding systems using improved, high-yielding grasses and forage legumes, improved breed types and sustainable production systems.
Highlights of Recent Activities
Activities of Regional Scope
- A strategic planning workshop for the development of the regional small ruminant industry was held in Trinidad and Tobago on 20 March 2008. Participants to the workshop included CARDI staff members, representatives of key partners and stakeholders from Trinidad. One of the major recurring limitations identified at the workshop for moving the small ruminant industry forward was the very limited numbers of available breeding stock. CARDI will pursue strategies to contribute to the production and distribution of high quality breeding stock to meet the increased production needed.
Activities of National Scope
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In Jamaica, the technology of oestrus synchronisation and hormonal treatment is being validated with the view to shortening the breeding season and the kidding intervals. Preliminary results indicate that the treated group, on average, completed kidding some 25 days earlier than the untreated group.
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Given the continued high world grain prices, it is imperative that the development of forage-based feeding systems for small and large ruminants be accelerated. Our findings in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago on the establishment, biomass production and nutritive value of ‘Mulato’ grass (Brachiaria sp) suggest that this is a valuable forage species to promote in the region at this time.
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In other forage evaluation work in Jamaica, the ‘Mombasa’ Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) exhibited superior ground cover and biomass production over the common Guinea grass. In the case of the forage legumes evaluation, alfalfa (Medicago sativa) showed better productivity at the 4 and 5 week cutting intervals while the exotic clitoria (Clitoria ternatea) was better at the 6 weeks cutting interval. This suggests that there could be complimenatrity in their use.
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The transfer of small ruminant production technologies is proceeding in tandem with the technology generation/adaptation. Accordingly, ensilage technology suitable for small-producer application and using King grass and Taiwan grass (Pennisetum sp.), sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) and ‘Mulato’ (Brachiaria sp.) was demonstrated at the Sugarcane Feed Centre, Trinidad and Tobago. In Jamaica the capacity of farming communities in small ruminant production was enhanced through three formal training sessions.
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We prepared a Small Ruminant Commercial Production Enterprise proposal for the Trinidad and Tobago Goat and Sheep Society for submission to the Trinidad and Tobago Government for funding. The technical coefficients used for the proposal were based on data accumulated from our work over the years.
PUBLICATIONS
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Guide to goat breeds for the Caribbean. October 2006. John M. CARDI Factsheet TT/005/06. St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago: Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute |
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Guide to sheep breeds for the Caribbean. October 2006. John M. CARDI Factsheet TT/006/06. St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago: Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute |
Factsheets
Proceedings
Technical Publications
Other Resources
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