Department Of Agriculture To Transform Livestock Programme With Re-launch Of The Bayford’s Livestock Centre Of Excellence

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14th , 2020 (ZIZ News): Plans are in place for 2021 to continue the work of the Department of Agriculture to transform its livestock programme by implementing new systems and programmes with the re-launch of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence.

This is according to Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department of Agriculture; Dr. Tracey Challenger who was speaking during the re-launch ceremony of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence on Wednesday.

She said there are a number of training programmes that will continue in 2021.

“We will continue our training activities for 2021 it will include training in production and financial management and methods for odor control in poultry pens.”

She added that the department will also be experimenting with alternative feed sources for poultry and swine as well as the reintroduction of a programme to manage access roads along with a project on paddock rehabilitation.

To combat theft, Dr. Challenger says the livestock unit will introduce the use of microchips to track livestock.

“The livestock unit will also introduce a sophisticated small ruminant housing model using free materials on the island, we have a problem with praedial larceny and one of the measures that have been put forward for 2021 is the availability of microchip to the farmers to help curb this praedial larceny.”

Dr. Challenger also said that the livestock unit will be implementing a standardized production system for each species of livestock for farmers to follow in an effort to maintain a certain quality of meat being sold to the public.