Barbados has temporarily suspended all exports of its prized indigenous Blackbelly sheep amid an unprecedented population decline, Barbados TODAY can reveal.
The Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) is now seeking to revive a national registration scheme, as industry leaders warn that no sheep can be spared for export until local numbers recover.
The President of Barbados Sheep Farmers Inc., Rommel Parris, confirmed the halt in exports as the sheep herds have dropped to a critically low level, despite rising regional demand.
“I don’t think at this time we can export any more sheep….” Parris told Barbados TODAY, adding, “I have had to say no on numerous occasions because for me personally I don’t think at this time we can export any more sheep… we are not in any position to export any more sheep.”
Parris emphasised that the island’s supply was so low “there are no more animals really that can be bought without the depletion of the stock in Barbados”.
He noted that interest from regional buyers had recently surged but confirmed he has repeatedly turned down requests. “I have had numerous calls about other islands seeking to export sheep from Barbados… up to yesterday I had a call… somebody in Antigua… wanted 150… I had to say no,” Parris said, explaining that other countries such as Dominica and Grenada were actively seeking animals. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Jamaica calls soon because of the situation with Hurricane Melissa.”
Yet, despite growing demand, he said: “The stock is too low.”
Parris acknowledged he could not provide precise statistics about the national flock but confirmed the population had reached an alarming stage and voiced concern about dwindling interest among young people.
The situation was compounded by farmers’ inability to access quality breeding animals from Greenland Livestock Station, he said.
“Greenland Livestock Station still does not sell animals to farmers as we speak right now,” he said, describing the problem as a major threat to rebuilding efforts. “If your main breeding station is having that kind of issue, then we are in deep trouble if we are saying that we are going to be exporting sheep….”
Interest in the Barbados Blackbelly sheep has risen sharply throughout the region since the export of 1 003 animals to Guyana under the 2022 St Barnabas Accord, which aims to support food-security efforts across the Caribbean through Blackbelly sheep crossbreeding. Parris said countries have been enquiring about sourcing animals ever since: “There’s a high demand now coming towards the exportation of sheep.”
But he stressed that Barbados could not afford to risk any further reduction of its national flock.
Parris explained that the BAS was now prioritising the resurrection of the Blackbelly sheep registration programme, which he said had been absent “for a very long time”.
“We have to bring back a proper registration system because we cannot rebuild the national flock without knowing exactly what is on the ground,” he said. “A structured registry is essential if we want to revitalise the industry and restore stock levels to what they should be.
“Without registration we cannot plan breeding programmes, measure losses, or support farmers effectively, so it is a priority to reintroduce the system. If we are serious about rebuilding numbers, then we must return to a regulated registration process to track animals and stabilise the industry. Revitalising the sector starts with data, and that means restoring a national registry so we know our baseline and can grow from there.”
The registration process was launched earlier this month, and Parris said the officer leading the programme was trained internationally. “She has tags and everything to do it, and we will be going forward with that to get that on the ball.”
She had already been given the BAS list of registered sheep farmers and would be contacting them, said Parris. There were only 80 registered sheep farmers in the BAS.
The officer was also trained “in how to look at the qualities of the sheep… look at the characteristics… the weight… the growth, etcetera”, the sheep farmers’ spokesman said.
Asked what an ideal recovery for the industry would look like, Parris said: “We need to get as many people as possible breeding sheep again. If we can get between five to six people per year saying that they want to keep 20 sheep, the sector could rebuild over the long term.”
“Sheep will be a big thing again and within the next ten to 20 years.” He added that Barbados would eventually be “in a position to export comfortably”, similar to the era when, through programmes with “C.O. Williams, David Arthur and them, they used to export and send to the Philippines but we always had sheep because these guys used to breed quality sheep.”
Parris maintained that the indigenous Barbados Blackbelly sheep remains globally respected for its hardiness, multiple births and adaptability. He also praised the Ministry of Agriculture for implementing a training programme to teach current farmers about best practices.
sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb
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