Jamaica to import 200 goat embryos..

Some 200 goat embryos are to be purchased next fiscal year as part of a programme aimed at improving the breeding stock of small ruminants - sheep and goats.


Just over $56.6 million has been set aside in the Estimates of Expenditure to complete the procurement of the embryos for assisted breeding through embryo transfer and artificial insemination.
In addition to the purchase of the 200 goat embryos, the Government is to spend money importing 109 animals for local breeding.


Dwight Williams, deputy research director, livestock at Bodles Research Station in St Catherine told The Gleaner that the original project proposal was predicated on the importation of live animals from Australia. However, concerns about diseases prevented the importation of the live animals, thus paving the way for embryos.


"So far, 200 sheep embryos have been brought in," Williams said, while adding that the consultant is to do ultrasound on the animals before implantation.
"We have 100 animals in which we are going to implant the 200 embryos ... . We have brought in 200 sheep and we are to bring in 200 goats."


According to Williams, it is necessary to improve the breeding stock to not only prevent against diseases, but to maximise the returns on the investment.
"It is good to have native goats, and you may have your own native goats, but when you look at the amount of weight that they put on per day, it is very poor. So we need to improve those parametres. Instead of having an animal weighing 40 pounds when it is an adult, we try to get an animal that weighs 80 pounds," Williams said.


Last year, Jamaica procured 244 animals under the diversification of Caribbean Livestock project 150 ewes, 10 rams, 74 does and 10 bucks.
The agriculture ministry said breeding stock increased by 70 per cent within the current fiscal year, which ends in March. It said that the stock has improved to 406 animals inclusive of sheep and goats.


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Taken from: The Gleaner