Dairy industry defends importation of Canadian heifers

The Barbados Dairy and Beef Association has sparked debate with its bold decision to import 180 pregnant heifers from Canada, a move aimed at revitalising the island’s struggling dairy industry.

Despite criticism over the feasibility of rearing cold-climate cattle in the tropics, the association remains confident in the adaptability of the Holstein breed.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY on Friday, dairy association president Patrick Butcher stated there was no error in importing the animals from a cold country to the tropics, as the animals—particularly the Holstein breed—are adaptable to most climates.

He was responding to critics who questioned the feasibility of rearing cattle here from a country known for its bitterly cold weather.

“It may be true that the animals are coming from a more temperate climate, but most animals are adaptable, and the Holstein is used throughout the world,” he said.

“They are not only used in tropical climates but also in Australia and South Africa, where temperatures tend to be even harsher than ours. Even places like the United Arab Emirates and India, for example, use them. The Holstein is just not an animal selected for North America and Europe.

It’s the most popular of all the dairy breeds and is adaptable.”Butcher took a Barbados TODAY team on a tour of CO Williams Dairy in Kendal, St John, to provide a first-hand look at the animals in quarantine. Veterinary restrictions prevented the team from taking photos or getting too close to the animals. The animals were observed grazing peacefully, showing no signs of heat stress such as panting or drooling.

Butcher emphasised that these animals were essential to rejuvenate the struggling dairy industry. He said two main challenges significantly impacted the sector, and with these new genetics, farmers could now focus on addressing the problems.

One challenge, he noted, was the sweltering heat, which had intensified over the past few years. He urged farmers to transform their farms into climate-adjusted facilities to ensure maximum efficiency from the animals. This includes investing in cooling mechanisms such as fans and increasing shaded areas on farms.

Nutrition was another critical factor, Butcher said. Milk producers must ensure the animals have adequate supplies of quality hay, vitamins, and minerals.

He highlighted innovative solutions, such as Claybury Plantation’s wrapped grass silage, which stays fresh for up to a year, and Armag Farms’ provision of king grass (pearl millet) to supplement animal feed. He also mentioned collaboration with a local fish processing company to create a fish offal-based productto supplement rations, with plans to scale up production.

The heifers were imported through a joint venture involving the government, farmers, the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS), and the Royal Bank of Canada.

The 180 heifers were sourced from Canada as a contingency when the initial plan to import them from the United States fell through due to a ban on American cattle after bird flu outbreaks.

In recent years, local dairy farmers have struggled to produce even three million kilogrammes of milk annually—50 per cent below acceptable levels. Butcher identified another significant issue: fertility challenges among cattle.

“One of the major challenges with reproduction on the farms would be the quality of semen and its source. Previously, two of the most reputable companies—Semex in Canada and Semex Sires in North America—were our go-to for artificial insemination. For some reason, there was a move away from these companies, and during that time, we observed a decline in the quality of our livestock. This likely contributed to the milk shortage.”

He said farmers previously benefited from AI services provided by Semex, which included animal evaluations, consultations on breeding strategies, and training in insemination techniques.

After the Semex programme was discontinued, farmers were encouraged to use sexed semen to select the desired offspring.

However, Butcher explained that this method has limitations.

“The challenge with using sexed semen is that you get the highest conception rates with virgin heifers. Using it on mature cows yields lower rates, as they are more likely to experience post-calving issues,” he said.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb