Farmers seal bid for cattle imports to boost milk production

After a significant setback, dairy farmers have secured a deal to import 180 pregnant heifers from Canada next month, in an effort to boost the island’s milk production.

James Paul, chief executive officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society, announced the agreement on Wednesday, following a two-month ban on importing cows from the United States that left dairy farmers scrambling for alternative sources.

Sourcing the heifers from Canada represents a significant step towards revitalising the island’s dairy industry, with hopes high for a noticeable impact on milk production by early next year.

“We are hoping that by September of this year, which is next month, we will have those cows in place because we are hoping to get them in as soon as possible. Hopefully, those cows that are being imported will have an impact on milk production by January,” Paul said on the sidelines of a seminar held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

The island’s current annual milk production stands at a “far too low” three million litres, said Paul. He noted that Barbados once produced double that amount, explaining: “Years ago [there was] a determined attempt to curtail production because at that time, it was felt that we were overproducing milk. Now, we have found that that adjustment was too much; we really should have gone in the other direction and certainly we’re going to get it back up.”

Originally, dairy farmers had planned to spend $1.5 million to import 320 pregnant climate-resistant heifers from the United States, with the first batch of 214 animals expected to arrive by plane last month. This plan was halted in May when Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Mark Trotman announced a ban on importing cows from the US due to an outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) in cattle, which was also being contracted by farm labourers.

Paul emphasised that proper management of the new genetics on farms would be crucial to the success of this importation. He expressed concern over the low numbers of veterinarians on the island catering specifically to the farming industry, declaring that too many of the island’s young veterinary professionals were primarily interested in the care of pets rather than livestock.

“As you know we are trying as much as possible to try to augment the island’s milk supply,” Paul added, highlighting the importance of veterinary services in assisting farmers with rearing the new animals. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb