Barbados is looking to revitalise its Black Belly sheep industry after acknowledging that its national flock has remained stagnant even though Guyana says it has recorded significant growth using Barbadian breeding stock.
According to an article published yesterday by Barbados Today, Barbados’ Minister of Agriculture and Food and Nutritional Security, Dr. Shantal Munro-Knight, said the government is developing a comprehensive strategy to sustainably expand the indigenous breed and strength
The minister said officials are developing a comprehensive plan that will examine not only increasing sheep numbers but also improving feed availability, production systems and value-added opportunities within the industry.
She acknowledged that while several initiatives have been introduced over the years to strengthen the Black Belly sheep sector, the latest figures presented to the ministry showed the national flock has remained relatively stable rather than growing as intended.
According to the publication Guyana has reported significant success with its own Black Belly sheep programme, which was established using breeding stock exported from Barbados under the St. Barnabas Accord.
More than 1,000 Black Belly sheep were exported to Guyana beginning in 2022, with shipments continuing through 2024
Guyana’s Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has previously drawn attention to a Black Belly sheep operation on a farm owned by President Irfaan Ali, estimating that approximately 200 sheep are housed in elevated pens designed to improve hygiene and reduce the risk of disease. Mohamed estimated the value of the sheep facility at around $10 million, with the flock itself worth approximately $18 million.
The Barbados Today report also noted that Munro-Knight declined to comment on the political controversy in Guyana surrounding the Black Belly sheep programme following allegations raised by Mohamed about the administration of the initiative.
Munro-Knight said officials from her ministry visited Guyana to examine the country’s programme, including its breeding practices, which incorporate both pure Barbados Black Belly sheep and cross-breeding with other sheep breeds.
She noted that Barbados will assess whether aspects of Guyana’s approach could be adapted locally while preserving the integrity of the pure Barbados Black Belly breed.
The minister stressed, however, that no decisions would be made until the ministry completed its research and analysis, noting that policy recommendations would be guided by evidence rather than assumptions.
The Ministry of Agriculture here has dismissed allegations by the Opposition Leader that its Black Belly Sheep Programme has been a failure, but did not address claims regarding alleged links between a ministry official and a company that has been awarded major contracts under the initiative.
The ministry responded to several of the allegations during a special programme featuring Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr. Dwight Waldron, and Chairman of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth.
Waldron described the Black Belly Sheep Programme as “transformative,” saying it was introduced to improve the country’s sheep genetics after years of limited genetic development. He said Guyana imported about 1,000 Black Belly sheep from Barbados under the initiative and has since increased the population to more than 5,000 animals. According to Waldron, over 450 livestock farmers have benefited from the programme, with many now into the third generation of breeding.
Addressing concerns about the Ellis, West Coast Berbice breeding centre, Waldron acknowledged that no sheep are currently housed at the facility but said the project has not been abandoned. He explained that development has been delayed by adverse weather, adding that key infrastructure works have been completed and 200 Radio Frequency Identification-tagged breeding ewes have already been allocated to the site and will be transferred once conditions improve.
The ministry’s programme also featured livestock farmers who praised the initiative, saying the breeding stock provided through the programme has improved their operations.
Farmers reported healthier animals, increased lamb production, better genetics and higher incomes, with some noting that their flocks have grown significantly since receiving Black Belly breeding rams from the government. Others described the programme as one of the most impactful agricultural initiatives they have participated in.
The Barbados Black Belly sheep, which originated on the island centuries ago, is internationally recognised for its hardiness, adaptability and meat production. Over the decades, Barbados has exported breeding stock to several countries, contributing to the establishment of both purebred and cross-bred Black Belly sheep populations around the world.
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