Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 17, 2016 News
(Continued from last week)
The responsibility for market forecasting and planning of the production of livestock products with a view to satisfying domestic consumption and exploring international markets is handled by the Livestock Industry Development Unit (LIDU). This Unit falls under the purview of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA).
In order to fulfill its mandate, the LIDU must foster the formation, organization and development of livestock clusters and industry stakeholder associations representing all areas within the livestock sector.
Here is a look at the livestock production subsectors this Unit must monitor and an analysis of the performance of the subsectors for the year 2015.
THE BEEF SUB-SECTOR
According to the Unit, Beef production over the past three years continues be flat, both at the supply and demand sides respectively. The price for this commodity remained relatively stable, with a retail price of $924/kg.
The Unit noted that a number of constrains have been identified as having negative effects on its growth and expansion. These included the absence of an abattoir of international standard and processing facilities for the processing of meats for the export market; low carcass weight, poor daily weight gain, long maturity time taken market animals; poor nutrition among other factors.
It was found that the industry produced approximately 2.3M kg of beef. However the slaughter of productive female continues to be a serious issue.
This publication was told that the authority’s policy of buying productive female from the abattoir will significantly contribute in reducing the number of female slaughtered.
MEAT AND EGG PRODUCTION
One of the mandates of the GLDA is to ensure that farmers respond to the demands of the consuming public by making available locally produced meat and milk. In 2015, the poultry industry recorded an increase in production for both meat and eggs these products increased by 9.2% and 12.25 % respectively over that as reported in 2014, with the poultry meat recording a total of 30,000 and egg production at 26 million eggs produced.
PORK PRODUCTION
Production continued to be stubbornly low in this category, with comparatively high prices for scarce breeding animals. The Unit said that this scenario was due to prevailing market forces. It was reported that a number of mega farms owned by some Chinese have shut out local producers from the restaurant pork market. Thus, the available alternative markets are depressed due to crowding; this has created difficulty for a number of farmers to get good price for this commodity.
MUTTON PRODUCTION
Mutton/chevron production also continued to be low due to weak local demand and high prices. The Unit said that the production output for 2015 was recorded at 101,814 kg. However, a few supermarkets and restaurants paid high prices for quality mutton and in the case of the latter, the meat was used in special dishes for tourists.
Meat from the “Texana” cross was in demand to satisfy this niche market due to its high dressing out percentages and excellent quality.
The Unit said that pressure exerted by high pound fees and dwindling grazing areas in number of communities impacted negatively on this sub-sector. In order for farmers to turn these challenges into opportunities, officials said that the different production systems employed in the domestication of small ruminants will have to be analyzed and adjustments made, where necessary, to improve performance efficiency.
It was also the widely held view that if the prices demanded for this commodity were to be reduced, then domestic consumption can increase. The officials said that this will be beneficial to both the producers and the consumers.
IMPORTATION OF MEAT
Importation of chicken, pork, lamb and beef were insignificant in terms of quantities the Unit said. They noted however, that these imports represent an opportunity for the livestock farming community. The officials said that a total of 29,000 kg of high quality pork, along with 38,000 kg of beef, 119,000kg of chicken and 370 kg of lamb were imported. They said that these meat imports along with that of processed meats were imported at a cost of $159M. The Unit believes that the imported meats could be easily supplied by the local farmers; however the quality of meat on offer from the local livestock farmers has to be improved.
Overall, the Unit said that the sector performed creditably, except for the pig and small ruminant industries. These industries the Unit said, continued to suffer from, in some instances, the unavailability of quality breeding stocks; the high cost for feeds; unfocused and appropriately qualified pig/small ruminant development extension officers; a lethargic private sector, as it related to the advancement of the industry; lack of an abattoir of international standard; an underdeveloped animal health programme to address health issues specific to the rearing of pigs and small ruminants and an absence of supportive legislation to enhance the sustained development of these sub-sectors.
Additionally, it was noted that the cattle industry, especially as it related to the development of the beef cattle industry with export of beef to CARICOM countries, which was a pivotal component of the Agriculture diversification programme, has not met the majority of key milestones set to measure the advancement of this sub-sector.
The allocation of suitable, zoned land for cattle pasture development did not receive the level of administrative support that encouraged cattle farmers to invest more in this sub-sector.
On the other hand, it was noted that the use of proven technologies to improve cattle production has been underutilized. The Unit said that this latter area will have to be the focus of future endeavours if the industry wants to be competitive.
As for the sheep and goat industry, the Unit said that this suffered similarly in terms of lack of adequate land for grazing animals, larceny and conflict with crop farmers, and an absence of a relevant legislative agenda to catalyze its development.
In addition, it was noted that both of these meats were not eaten as staples, but rather consumption was influenced by culture, religion and seasonal demand. This newspaper was told that the high prices also served as a disincentive, especially with carcasses having low dressing out percentages (high bone to meat ratio).
The poultry industry was one area which demonstrated resilience, despite a plethora of global challenges it faced. The industry continued to grow, but such gains were quickly overtaken by increased demands for this staple on the local market.
The unit noted that the slowing down of the mining sector has negatively impacted on the rapid growth of this sector in the economy. The traditional market lacks the capacity to adequately absorb the volume of meat which the mining sector uses to consume. Thus future development of the industry will have to be strategically done, the Unit opined. They emphasized as well, the need to penetrate overseas markets with vigour, purpose and urgency.
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