Livestock farmers get permission to export 100 heads of cattle per year

What was described as a “big blunder” less than two months ago, has manifested itself as a commercial export opportunity for livestock farmers.{{more}}

On January 29, when Grenadian Jude Jack tried to export 84 heads of cattle valued at $150,000, he was delayed for 20 hours at Port Kingstown. Officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and the police delayed the shipment, while they investigated the origin of the animals, and whether the proper procedures for the export of the animals had been followed.

Now, following research conducted by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Kathian Hackshaw, the green light has been given for St Vincent and the Grenadines to export up to 100 heads of cattle a year.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar said the national agricultural census conducted in 2000, indicated that the national herd was approximately 4,800. However a recent count in 2013 estimated that the population had grown to approximately 5,000.

It was also noted in the report from the Chief Veterinary Officer that the number of animals inspected for slaughter indicated that an average of 1,350 animals were slaughtered annually from 2001 to 2006. There was a decreasing trend, with 843 animals slaughtered in 2007 to 825 in 2011, with the lowest number of 699 slaughtered in 2009.

This figure, the Minister said, represents a slaughter or off-take from 28 to 13 per cent annually, utilizing the figures from the national census of 2000 and the 2013 “snap-count.”

It was therefore recommended that no more that 10 to 12 per cent of the total herd should be removed or slaughtered annually.

A number of recommendations were also given by Dr Hackshaw with regard to exportation and maintaining the cattle population.

Topping the list of recommendations is that a quota of no more than 100 cattle be selected for export each year.

Other recommendations are that restrictions should be placed on the export of male cattle younger than two years of age. Only males that are of low genetic potency or have reproductive/production related issues will be available for export.

No productive females of breeding age would be allowed for export.

With the green light given for exportation, Caesar revealed that the St Vincent and the Grenadines cattle industry has already secured an external market for 100 heads per year.

The first 100 were exported to Grenada on Wednesday via the MV Calrion J III.

Jude Jack, whose shipment was delayed in January, was the purchaser.

“It is the policy of the government, in the agricultural sector, to increase our exports and reduce out imports. The economics of this is very basic and we are working together with all partners – the private sector partnering with the government to ensure that we can maintain the requisite numbers in the national herd and still have quantities of animals for export,” Caesar said.

He further noted that it is very important that whilst the advice from the Chief Veterinarian is that 100 heads of cattle be exported on an annual basis, the Ministry of Agriculture has already held consultations with several “friendly governments” to work on the mechanism and the machinery to increase the national herd at the quickest pace.

“We are going to ensure that the best practices are applied and that we expose ourselves as a nation to the highest forms of technology, so that we can ramp up the production and increase the quantity of the national heard,” Caesar added.

According to the minister, the calculation for the year reveals that there is a demand for the export of cattle to a value of US $100,000.

“There are many cattle farmers in St Vincent and the Grenadines and we are encouraging, as a government, the formation of a national cattle farmers association… We are also advancing the proposal for farmers to come together and form a cattle producer’s corporative.

“Of course this can be the off shoot of the cattle farmers association,” he indicated.

Caesar said his ministry will be working along with these farmers in guiding the process, but wants the project to be driven by the farmers.

The cattle production sector in St Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised mainly of Holstien, Brown Swiss, Jamaican Red Poll and Nelthrop breeds and their crosses. (AA)