Sheep improvement programme deemed success

Sep 03, 2008 News

The National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) has been mandated to carry out more embryo implants and infrastructural works to improve its facilities and security for the new breeds of animals.
This was yesterday announced by Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, when he visited and inspected the progress of the Artificial Insemination (AI) project on Black Belly sheep, with the birth of the first batch of lambs using this state-of-the-art technology.

Tim Healy, Representative of the British Texel Sheep Society, inspects a Texel sheep offspring. Also in picture are Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud and British High Commissioner Fraser Wheeler (second from right).

The AI exercise begun five months ago at NARI through the British High Commission in Guyana.
Yesterday, Persaud said that the embryo transplant is part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s efforts to expand the livestock industry, with emphasis on small ruminants.
The livestock sector contributes about 2.2 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, and plays a crucial role in the sustainable development of the economy.
This project is an initiative of the Minister after discussion with the British High Commission and the Texel Society during a visit to Scotland, United Kingdom.
The new Texel breed has the ability to double its weight gain when compared to locally available breed.
Minister Persaud also expressed gratitude to the British Government on behalf of the farmers, who will benefit from this project for the technical assistance and other support provided to ensure its realization.
He pointed out that the use of embryo implant reduces the cost of acquiring new breeding animals as an imported Texel animal would cost US$5,000.
Meanwhile, High Commissioner H.E. Fraser Wheeler yesterday said that the British Government is delighted to be associated with the project, which is geared to diversify the agriculture sector.
He also expressed satisfaction of the successful implementation of the project to the stage it is presently.
Director of NARI, Dr. Oudho Homenauth stated that about 120 Black Belly sheep were used for the embryo transplant while an additional 200 were inseminated.
He also pointed out that the project has recorded a 72 percent success rate with the birth of 45 lambs, which were born within 145 days.
Guyana is the first country in the Caribbean and South America to possess this type of breed and is seen as a significant development in the livestock industry.
Also present yesterday were Tim Healy, representative of the British Texel Sheep Society, Sarah Wheeler, wife of the British High Commissioner, farmers, members of the private sector and technical officers for the Ministry of Agriculture and the British High Commission.
On April 11 last, the artificial insemination programme was officially launched at NARI.
This programme has now introduced Texel sheep to Guyana via biotechnological means using artificial insemination and embryo transplants.
Technicians from the INNOVIS Research Institute, England have been working with veterinarians and members of NARI to have an approximate 50 sheep artificially inseminated as part of initializing the project.
The Texel breed sheep is a heavily muscled sheep.
It produces a lean meat carcass and it passes on this quality to crossbred progeny.
This project is being conducted under the Agriculture Diversification Programme.