By Ruth Simpson, Contributor
Goats at the Sam Motta Goat & Sheep Demonstration and Training Centre (SMDTC).
THE GOAL of the Sam Motta Goat & Sheep Demonstration and Training Centre (SMDTC), situated in Knockpatrick, Manchester, is to contribute to Jamaica's small ruminant industry through the development, evaluation and distribution of improved breeds of small ruminants and the transfer of technologies of breed improvement, production systems and enterprise development.
The main aim of the project is to upgrade the genetic stock of goats in Jamaica. With this in mind, superior breeding stock such as Boers, Nubians and Alpines were selected along with native goats which are representative of their breed production characteristics. Mating is carried out within breeds to maintain purebred lines, while cross breeding is done to upgrade the genetic potential of the native stock.
The bucks from the exotic breeds, which are used in the cross breeding programme, are also assessed by the performance of their progeny. Selected improved progeny are made available to farmers for the upgrading of their stock.
Farmers within close proximity to the station have the added advantage of benefiting from the buck service offered at the SMDTC. This service forms part of the community outreach programme which has as its other components, planned training days on and off Station and mechanisms through which technical assistance is rendered and improved germplasm distributed.
The SMDTC is a community joint- venture project between the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and Alumina Partners of Jamaica (ALPART) Mining Venture with collaboration from various groups. These groups includes the 4 H Clubs, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the Goat Breeders Society of Jamaica, the Ministry of Agriculture and the farming community.
The facility occupies about 20 hectares of land providing pasture for 165 goats as well as for the generation of tree-cropping systems technology.
Visitors are welcomed to the facility which to date, has accommodated school groups, individual farmers and local and international farmers.
- Ruth Simpson, project manager, Sam Motta Goat & Sheep Demonstration and Training Centre, Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Jamaica Unit.
