Project Name：Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project (Belize)

Project status：Completed projects

Cooperating Country：Central America, Belize

Project Description：

The main reason for Belize’s low productivity in sheep production is that the quality of breeding sheep is poor. This, in turn, is due to the fact that the paddock at Central Farm, which supplies sheep to farmers, is very small, with a further lack of basic facilities and equipment adding to the poor efficiency of breeding activities, as a result of which production cannot meet the needs of farmers. The management and technology of sheep feed is also poor, and there has been a failure to maintain pure breeding lines. Farmers lack any means of exchanging information, and lack feeding- and management- related know-how. Pasture and feed management are also poor.

To improve sheep breeding and productivity in Belize, the main content of this project will include: 1. To improve and expand infrastructure at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center, Central Farm. 2. To introduce 87 head of quality breeding stock, renewing three breeding stocks and establishing a scheme for breeding stock selection. 3. Provide training and education for Central Farm staff and local sheep producers.

To watch the video made by the TaiwanICDF: Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project (Belize)

Implementation Start Date：2015-12-02

Implementation End Date：2019-12-01

Project Objectives：

1. To improve and expand infrastructure at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center, Central Farm.
2. To introduce 87 head of quality breeding stock, renewing three breeding stocks and establishing a scheme for breeding stock selection. 3.Provide training and education for Central Farm staff and local sheep producers.

Executing Agency：

 Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize / Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development (Belize) 

Current Progress：

To the end of November 2019, the following activities have been completed:
1. Complete improvement of the infrastructure of existing sheep and expansion of the office and related equipment.
2. Completed construction of two sheep housing units at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center for a capacity of at least 400 heads.
3. Introduced 147 heads of breeding sheep with three renewed breed for the moment and at least 29 head of breeding sheep are expected to be arrived in April of 2019.
4. Two local technicians and three field workers have been additionally employed.
5. Dispatched two local technicians to Taiwan for the training on 「sheep and goat Breeding and reproduction」, and the back-to-office report has been submitted.
6. Dispatched short-term consultant twice from Taiwan to Belize (breeding selection, registry regime and reproductive technology) in December 10-19, 2016 and September 11-20, 2017, respectively.
7. Accomplished expansion of Pasture paddock area and forage field to 16 hectares in total had been accomplished.
8. Published two SOP handbooks for breeding sheep management and commercial sheep management had been published.
9. Selected 12 Pilot farmers and assistance will be continually provided to improve their production efficiency. The memorandum between MOA(Ministry of Agriculture) and farmers has been signed.
10. Held six teacher-training sessions for a total 105 people, eight times of farmers’ training sessions for a total of 218 local sheep producers, facilitate one time of leather tanning training session fot a total 15 people and one time capacity building for the staff and technicians of University of Belize as a total 15 people.
11. One Sheep and Goat Breeding Center has been established in Central Farm.
12. Organized and integrated one sheep and goat farmer’s association has been organized under the Belize Livestock Producers Association(BLPA)and facilitate establishing Corozal united sheep producers’ cooperative society Ltd.
13. Established and put into practice one breeding stock selection scheme in Central Farm.
14. Implemented production registry ear tag system through internet platform operated by OIRSA.
15. Conducted inauguration of the Sheep and Goat Breeding Center at Central Farm on March 15, 2018. 16.253 lambs and kids were born and 58 heads of offspring has been sold to sheep producers as breeding stock.
16. Held Belize Small Ruminant Registry and Digital Platform on November 22 to 23, 2018.
17. Completed establishment of 4 set of manure conveyers.
18. Completed setting up an elevator for the sheep ban.
19. Dispatch 2 extension personnel to Taiwan for a two-week training on the operation of farmer’s association and certification of breeding sheep in April 5-20, 2019, and back to office workshop has been conducted in June 12, 2019.
20. Hold an animal auction in June 1, 2019 to match 70 head of small ruminants.

Project Contact：Huang,Tsung-Hsien

Phone：+886-2-28732323 Ext.207

E-mail：ts.h.huang@icdf.org.tw

Projected Benefits：A minimum of an seven times increase in the breeding stock of quality small ruminants at the National Livestock Center, Central Farm.

Cooperating Stakeholders：Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development (Belize)

Mission：Taiwan Technical Mission in Belize