A new government strategy is being drafted to revive growth in Barbados’ iconic Black Belly sheep population after the national flock has failed to expand, Agriculture Minister Dr Shantal Munro-Knight has revealed — even as Guyana reports a fivefold increase using Barbadian breeding stock.
The minister disclosed that figures presented to her showed the island’s flock had remained largely unchanged, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Nutritional Security to review the industry’s economics, sustainability and long-term growth strategy.
“The ministry is developing a plan going forward in terms of how we scale for the Black Belly sheep in a more sustainable way,” Munro-Knight told Barbados TODAY on Tuesday.
“So, looking not only in terms of building out here in Barbados, but also things like feed, but also a plan for what is the value added that can be derived.”
The revival plan is the latest of multiple efforts to expand the indigenous breed. Last year, concerns were raised after warnings that breeding stock was being exported while the domestic flock remained under pressure.
Guyana has in the meantime reported rapid growth in its own Black Belly sheep programme, built from breeding stock originally sourced from Barbados, with authorities there saying the flock has increased fivefold.
In August 2022, at least 1 003 sheep were exported to Guyana under the St Barnabas Accord bilateral cooperation agreement, with the first batch of 132 animals followed by further shipments up to 2024.
Asked whether the national flock had increased or declined, the minister said the latest figures suggested little had changed.
“Based on the numbers shown to me, it’s stayed the same.
“Which itself is something that we’re looking at, right? Because if the intent was actually to grow, we have to be able to look at what are some of the kind of factors, but it’s remained fairly stable, to be honest.”
While several initiatives had been pursued over the years, the government wanted its next approach to be guided by research, Munro-Knight said.
“I know that we’ve had multiple plans with the Black Belly sheep, but it is something that is occupying the attention of [the ministry] in a real way.
“We’re looking at the economics around it… really how we scale it in a more sustainable way, so hopefully I’ll be able to come with a better plan, a more fleshed-out plan, very soon.”
The review extends beyond increasing animal numbers and includes examining feed availability, production systems and opportunities to derive greater value from the breed.
Her assessment echoes concerns raised by Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) chief executive officer James Paul, who said the focus must now shift to rebuilding the domestic programme.
“I don’t know if it is that the Barbados Black Belly sheep cannot flourish in Barbados. It is native to Barbados,” Paul told Barbados TODAY.
“I think basically what we have to look at is the breeding practices… I’m really hoping that we refocus on the Barbados Black Belly sheep here in Barbados and get our programme started to the previous heights that it has been.”
Barbados remains uniquely positioned to lead development of the breed, he suggested.
“We have always and will always be the best breeders of Barbados Black Belly sheep because it is acclimatised for Barbados.
“We need to get back to the work that we used to do before in terms of developing the genetic variations of the Barbados Black Belly sheep.”
Asked what lessons Barbados could learn from Guyana’s experience, Dr Munro-Knight said ministry officials had visited the country to examine its programme, which she described as involving breeding Black Belly sheep with other sheep.
“When we went down to Guyana and we actually saw the Black Belly sheep there.
“We know that in Guyana… their programme is based on a little bit of [cross-breeding]… with other sheep in Guyana.”
Barbados would examine whether aspects of that model could inform its own strategy, she said, while noting that Guyana still maintains pure Barbados Black Belly sheep.
“So, of course, we have to look and see if that model kind of works, but they are still pure Black Belly sheep from Barbados in Guyana.”
But the agriculture minister stressed that no decisions would be made until the ministry completed its analysis:
“I’m just going to beg for some patience. We’re looking at a number of different pillars in terms of agriculture. So Black Belly sheep is one; you’ll be hearing about that.
“I prefer always to be informed by the research and by the analysis before I come to the public to be able to give definitives.”
Dr Munro-Knight declined to comment on the political controversy surrounding Guyana’s sheep programme, in which opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed alleged irregularities in its administration, including a lack of transparency in the awarding of contracts. Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha dismissed the claims as “false, malicious and entirely without merit”.
Dr Munro-Knight said she was unfamiliar with the issue.
Barbados has exported Black Belly sheep to large territories from as far back as the early 1900s to Texas up to 1992, when rams and ewes were shipped to Malaysia.
The breed, which evolved in Barbados from African hair sheep and European breeds brought to the island in the 1600s, later became valued for its hardiness, meat production and adaptability, and exports from the island contributed to the development of pure and cross-bred lines abroad.
(SM)
