García Chévere, Giovani

Profile Picture

Filters

20211
Reset filters

Settings

Citations

Publication Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Publication
    Análisis descriptivo del impacto del incentivo del Departamento de Agricultura de Puerto Rico para la compra de vientres y padrotes importados sobre el desarrollo de la industria de pequeños rumiantes
    (2021-11-17) García Chévere, Giovani; Rodríguez-Carías, Abner A.; College of Agricultural Sciences; Padilla-Vélez, David; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, María del C.; Department of Agricultural Education; Fernández-Van Cleve, John
    A descriptive analysis of the impact of the incentive of the Puerto Rico Department of Agriculture for the purchase of nannies, ewes, rams, and bucks on the development of the small ruminant industry was conducted. Nineteen small ruminant producers, 14 dedicated to sheep production, 4 dairy goat producers, and one meat goat producer participated in the program. Among the participants, 47% were over 50 years old, 84% were male, 84% have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 53% have more than five years in the industry as producers. The farms of the participants are in six agricultural regions and 14 municipalities on the island. Before the importation of sheep and goats, 18 producers had less than 100 animals and only three goat farmers and five sheep producers produced and marketed, directly or indirectly, edible products for human consumption. Among the participating sheep producers, seven of them imported purebred animals, three commercial animals, and four imported both types. Of the five goat producers, three imported purebred animals and two of them commercial type animals. A total of 279 animals was imported as part of the program, 76.7% (n = 214) meat type sheep, 17.9% (n = 50) dairy goats, and 5.4% (n = 15) meat type goats, being the replacement female (goat or ewe-lamb), the type of animal mostly imported (n = 256). Dorper and Katahdin, Alpina, Saanen, and LaMancha, and Spanish were the sheep, dairy goat and meat goat, breeds imported, respectively. Of the 279 imported animals, 2.5% (n= 7) died during the trip, quarantine, and/or 60 days after importation. Presently, 244 animals (87%) are still part of the herds and 13% have been discarded, eliminated, or have died, being health problems the major cause of losses. Currently, a total of 288 offspring has been obtained from the reproduction of imported animals. Before the program, only eight of the 19 participants (42%) were food producers of goat or sheep origin. At present, 14 (74%) of the producers participate in food production (goat milk cheese or lamb meat), which represents an increase of 32%. In conclusion, the demographic profile of the participants in the incentive program was heterogeneous in relation to the type of producer (sheep or goat farmer), the location of their farms, age, gender, education, and time in the industry. The incentive of the department of Agriculture to import ewes, nannies, rams, and bucks, was one of benefit for the growth at the farm level of local small ruminant producers, and the development of the industry on the island in general. This benefit is evidenced mainly by the increase in the inventory of animals, and the increase in the participation of the beneficiaries in the production, and marketing of edible products for human consumption of goat and sheep origin.