Artificial insemination for livestock soon to be available

Livestock farmers, especially those into the production of goats and sheep, will soon have the privilege of having an artificial insemination service for their animals administered on their farms.

This is according to chief veterinary officer, Dr Kathian Hackshaw, who last week {{more}}indicated that a cadre of veterinary officers has been trained and given the tools to test the implementation of a mobile artificial insemination program for small ruminants.

Dr Hackshaw stated that at this moment Dr. Amelia Jack, who has responsibility for the Livestock Reproduction Program, with assistance of Dr Nathalie Toney, are presently administering this service to 50 goats located on five farms in the state. This programme, she indicated, is to be extended islandwide on a continuous basis in about a month’s time when the initial trials are evaluated. She said that it is part of an activity coming out of the FAO sponsored Farmers Field School’s Reproduction Module, which is focusing on Artificial Insemination in Goats during the week 16-20th June. It is also supported through the Agricultural Recovery Program for St Vincent and the Grenadines, also sponsored by the FAO.

Dr Hackshaw stated that the veterinary officers have been trained by an FAO consultant from Jamaica, Dr Gabriella Young who has been involved with the overall animal production program carried out by the Animal Health and Production Unit. The program is being done with animals that are in good health and body condition, and have the commitment of the farmers to assist with the preparation of the animals, a process referred to as “estrus synchronization.”

This is the first time that an artificial insemination program for small ruminants on this scale will be implemented here. It is an economical means of ensuring animals are bred within the desired genetic pool; it assists with proper management of the herd while improving the gene pool of the local herd.