Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Pearnel Charles Jr.and his state minister, Franklin Witter, were on location for the arrival of the first set of animals under the Small Ruminant Development Programme. Fifty  goats (Boer, Nubian and Kiko breeds) landed at the Norman Manley International Airport on Tuesday.

Established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 2021, the Small Ruminant Development Programme was created to address and bolster, key components within the small ruminant industry including boosting the development chain including, livestock quality, farmer capacity building, meat production and processing and by-product utilisation.

This two-year programme was developed with the objective to increase the availability of quality breeding stock at affordable prices to small ruminant farmers, which is arguably the major limitation to the sustainable development of Jamaica’s small ruminant industry.

Charles Jr, on examining the goats, said: “We realised that in order for us to be competitive against imports, there is a need for the industry to improve its supply of locally produced meat of good quality and affordable prices. This requires an increased number of high-quality animals that can be used for breeding, multiplication and production.”

The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries began the process to import some 180 small ruminants from the United States in 2022. This shipment of animals is expected to be delivered during this year, introducing 140 goats (breeds including Boer, Alpine, Saanen, Nubian, Toggenburg and Kiko) and 40 sheep; (breeds including Katahdin and Dorper) of superior quality into our local herds.

Charles Jr further stated that “the offspring of these goats will contribute to the upgrading of genetic material available to farmers. A semen bank (collection of semen from imported animals with superior genetics) will also be established from the imported males. The importation of animals and proper breeding management is critical for maintaining production and sustaining the industry. This move is a positive one towards fulfilling the ministry’s food security initiatives”.

Jamaica is a net importer of sheep and goat meat satisfying approximately 80 per cent of our local demand, by way of imports mainly from Australia and New Zealand. Jamaica is the largest importer of small ruminant meat in the Caribbean region, followed by Trinidad & Tobago.