July 11, 2023

Cayman Islands ventures into beef business with import of red poll cattle

The Cayman Islands government (CIG) is making its foray into the beef industry with the recent import of 22 red poll cattle from Jamaica, Cayman News Service reported.

After completing the quarantine period, these cattle will form the foundation herd for a breeding programme managed by the country's Department of Agriculture. The objective is to bolster local livestock numbers and enhance beef production within the islands.

Under the newly established National Livestock Development Programme (NLDP), the CIG purchased three bulls and 19 heifers from the Cattle Breeder's Society of Jamaica using public funds. Last month, these animals were airlifted to the Cayman Islands.

Jay Ebanks, Cayman Islands' Agriculture Minister, emphasised the government's focus on agriculture and food security in recent years, aiming to ensure that safe, nutritious food is accessible, available, and affordable for the people of the Cayman Islands. Importing these cattle is expected to significantly boost domestic cattle production, improve overall cattle genetics, and reduce the reliance on beef imports in the future.

The publicly-funded NLDP is specifically designed to develop local livestock, reduce goat imports, and enhance both the quality of local cattle herds and beef production. It also involves the implementation of a breeding program to swiftly improve local genetics and modernise the country's livestock industry.

Brian Crichlow, Cayman Islands' Acting Director of Agriculture, highlighted the sustainable approach of importing purebred cattle that are well-suited to the local conditions. This approach is viewed as crucial for enhancing local genetics, upgrading domestic herds, and supporting important research initiatives. The arrival of these imported cattle marks a significant milestone for the government's Cattle Breeding Programme and efforts to strengthen the domestic livestock sector.

By utilising the imported cattle and the newly established Cattle Breeding Centre on Cayman Brac, the country's Department of Agriculture plans to create a centre of excellence. This centre will offer stud bull services, calves for sale, and semen for artificial insemination.

Future plans include the development of a Livestock Breeding Centre on Grand Cayman, the introduction of embryo transfer technology, and the training of team members at the Veterinary Service Unit within the Department of Agriculture to enhance efficiency in animal breeding technology.

-      Cayman News Service