Acting Principal Research Director for the Research and Development Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Michelle Sherwood.
LL/3021/22
KINGSTON, Feb.20 (JIS):
Dairy Farmers are set to benefit from the installation of a brand new milking system and improved Dairy Parlour at the Bodles Research Station. Commissioned into use in September 2021, the new milking system has been paired with a new barn to house dairy animals in between milking.
Speaking in an interview with JIS News, Acting Principal Research Director for the Research and Development Division in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Mrs. Michelle Sherwood, said these additions will help to improve milk production and supply.
“Because of the renovation, we have successfully garnered a contract with a private investor, and we're now supplying locally produced milk again as well as products for the local market,” she said.
“We are also able to supply even the school feeding system. The milking parlour is well decorated and is the best in the island at this time. The new barn provides an environment where we can administer a mixed feeding system that will allow the animals to graze and be fed,” Mrs. Sherwood added.
Feeding of the animals will be done with help from the new nutrition lab at the Research Station.
“The new services are now available to the livestock industry, where we're able to do protein analysis. This will… help us to know what is the best forage and grasses to feed our animals. It has also enabled us to test our own milk,” Mrs. Sherwood explained.
She noted that other labs were used to conduct tests on milk, however “now we are able to be equipped to test our own milk and our own forages and to be able to provide this service to the agricultural sector as a result”.
“The project is really helping us to do what we're doing better and also to do more,” she said.
These improvements, as well as plans to construct a calf pen as part of the livestock complex building at Bodles, are part of the wider Rehabilitation of Research Centres Project.
Executed by the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Project aims to strengthen the island’s capacity for Agricultural Research.
Meanwhile, work has been done to improve lighting on the property, as well as security systems, which will help address concerns with praedial larceny and data security.
“…It is now much safer to be able to work on the property 24 hours if we desire. We are very grateful for the improved fencing that again has helped to secure research data, as well as protect government resources that are on the property,” she explained. Rehabilitation efforts also established an approved, secure location where pesticides can be safely stored “in an environment where it is safe for humans.” -30-
CONTACT: TWILA WHEELAN
