The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) Friday sold Texana rams to 24 livestock farmers as the Ministry of Agriculture advances its diversification programme, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
The Texana is a cross between the Texel and/or the Barbados Black Belly, Virgin Island White and Barbados Black Belly crossed female. The name Texana originated from the word Texel and the ‘ana’ ending from the word Guyana.
In 2008, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the British Texel Sheep Society and NARI to introduce the Texel breed of sheep into Guyana.
The methods selected for the introduction of the breed were embryo transplant for the pure bred animals and laparoscopic artificial insemination for the Texana.
A technical team will be observing the farmers who were sold the Texana sheep, and there are specific guidelines to be followed in relation to the manner in which the sheep are to be cared.
There is a clause in the contract that was signed which would allow the Ministry of Agriculture to return monies to the farmers and repossess the sheep if it is discovered that the farmers are not in compliance with the conditions laid out, GINA stated.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds said that it was an important point in the project, which has proceeded steadily with a clear purpose. He said that farming is important but there are less carbon intense ways for growth and development such as this project.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud noted that the pig and the sheep industries are in need of attention. The former has been developed in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force while the latter is being developed with assistance from the British High Commission and DFID.
This project, he said, is small but it has shown early results, adding that the Barbados Black Belly is tough, but not meaty and is also good for adapting to Guyana. The introduction of the cross breeding would allow for the toughness and adaptation, he said.
Persaud said further that the aim was to get a new breed with the least cost and so embryos and semen were imported rather than the entire animal. This method has proven to produce excellent results.
$15M invested
He said also that approximately $15M was spent in terms of investment for the project, adding that the Texana is significant in terms of development of the sheep/mutton industry.
Meanwhile, Dr Oudho Homenauth, Director of NARI, said a bio-chemical method was used for the transplant and it was the first time such a procedure was done on sheep in Guyana.
He said they were able to obtain appropriate technology which would be disseminated to farmers locally. This method was chosen because it allows for the insemination of up to 30 ewes daily, with a 75 to 100 percent conception rate. It also allows for block lambing and better management.
He pointed out that there were established guidelines to be followed and stock to be used for breeding.
GINA reported also that Sarah Wheeler, Programme Manager at the British High Commissioner’s Office on the project, noted that it was two years since the first discussion took place and the feedback she has received proves that it is a better quality lamb than the one that is imported from New Zealand.
She further pointed out that one of the objectives in cross breeding the Barbados Black Belly with the Texel is that it provides a better, leaner meat.
She also said that it supports the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) since they are more productive while emitting less carbon dioxide. This breed was specifically chosen for its capability of adapting properly to Guyana, GINA added.
