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Home | Ministry of Agriculture Launches Project to Preserve Jamaica Hope Cattle
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green, speaking during a press briefing held at the Ministry's Hope Complex Office on January 31.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is announcing the commencement of an initiative aimed at safeguarding the Jamaica Hope Nucleus Herd (cattle) and enhancing its genetic potential.
In light of the pressing need to combat genetic erosion and promote the resilience of local cattle populations, the Ministry has embarked on this strategic project centered at the Bodles Research Station.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, said the overarching goal of the project is to, “restore the herd’s functionality and its functional capacity.” He said this will be achieved through the implementation of a genetic evaluation system, with the aim of increasing the frequency of desirable genes in cattle, improving milk yield, fertility and environmental adaptability.
He was speaking at a press briefing held at the Ministry’s Hope Complex office on Wednesday, January 31.
The agriculture minister has expressed that the country should seek to continue building on the legacy left by renowned scientists and pioneer, Dr. Thomas P. Lecky.
“The reality is that if we want to keep moving forward then we have to build upon that work. We cannot remain stagnant because the climate has changed. So, we have to look at our quantitative methods of looking at genetic merit assessment, we have to mitigate against in breeding, and we have to utilize the appropriate mating systems so that we are getting the strongest of our Jamaica Hope breed,” he said.
Green outlined that the project began in January, and that the Ministry will be extending an invitation to the media to visit the Research Station and share the progress of the project once it is at an appropriate stage to do so.
Dr. Thomas P. Lecky is credited with the development of four breeds of cattle suitable for our local climate. They are the Jamaica Hope, Red, Black and Braham.
