The opportunity for growth in the Jamaican sheep industry is huge, say breeders who attended Canadian Western Agribition last week.
Ian Robinson, president of the Jamaica Sheep Farmers’ Association, said the country produces only one percent of the mutton consumed there.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” he said.
Robinson and three producers made their first trip to Agribition to see what genetics they could take back to Jamaica and examine the production practices in Canada.
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“We hope that your borders will soon be open and we can import stock from you,” he said. “You’re close by and you have some of the breeds that we need to import into Jamaica.”
The delegation was looking mainly at Katahdin and Dorper sheep. Robinson said they want to improve the quality of their sheep, achieve better weight gains and higher dressing-out percentages.
“The actual bodies on our commercial sheep in Jamaica are really not much better than the goats,” Robinson said.
There are about 6,000 breeding ewes in Jamaica. Breeds include Blackbelly, Dorper, Katahdin and the indigenous St. Elizabeth.
Robinson said there are also some “watered down” animals that were imported about 25 years ago.
The country recently imported 132 sheep from the United States and the country’s flocks are starting to improve.
The Jamaican government paid 80 percent of the cost and producers paid the remainder.
Robinson hoped the government would help farmers do the same with Canadian sheep, but a recent election and change in government has left them a bit uncertain.
Because its own production doesn’t come close to supplying demand, Jamaica imports about 164,000 tonnes of mutton each year, mainly from Australia, New Zealand and Europe.
However, Robinson complained that much of the meat comes from “geriatric old sheep.”
The Jamaican association, a co-operative that sees members’ lambs put through a feedlot and abattoir and marketed under their own brand, wants to change that.
Dan Kelley, a semi-retired lawyer from Jamaica’s north coast who began raising sheep a year ago, said the demand is tremendous.
“You have to remember we have easily three million tourists visiting each year,” he said.
That, along with the local consumption, creates a huge market, he said.
While in Canada visiting Agribition, Calgary and Olds College, Kelley said he learned about husbandry, stocking and genetics, but still has lots to find out.
“It has been a splendid experience,” he said.
“As soon as the regulatory issues are dealt with I imagine we’ll be one of the first customers.”
Kelley has about 250 ewes and wants to increase his flock size. He liked the size of Canadian Dorpers.
Elvis McPherson, who raises 350 sheep in St. Elizabeth Parish, known as the breadbasket of Jamaica, added that they are really looking for fast growth.
Katahdin and Dorper both adapt well to tropical climates, he said.
“We’re very, very pleased with what we’ve seen,” Robinson added.
They were also pleased with their reception.
“Since we touched down, our feet really haven’t touched the ground,” Robinson said. “Everybody’s been so helpful.”
