Barbados Dairy Industry Revamped with Arrival of Pregnant Heifers from Canada

After months of delays and logistical hurdles, the dairy industry is set for a major boost with the arrival of 180 pregnant heifers from Canada.

This long-awaited shipment marks the beginning of a transformative push to revamp domestic milk production and improve livestock welfare, addressing years of declining output.

On Wednesday, seven of the island’s 13 dairy producers imported 180 pregnant heifers from Canada. The animals landed at the Grantley Adams International Airport aboard Air Atlas at around 9:19 a.m., underwent veterinary inspection, and were transported to two locations—CO Williams Dairy in St John and Hope, St Lucy—for a 30-day quarantine.

Three breeds of dairy cattle were imported: Holstein, Jersey, and a mixed breed.

The cost of the heifer importation programme is $2.6 million, but farmers stand to benefit from an 80 per cent rebate, reducing the cost by $1.7 million.

At a media briefing, agricultural officials expressed delight at successfully completing the importation programme after several months of obstacles. But the recently appointed head of the Barbados Dairy and Beef Association, Patrick Butcher, revealed plans for a transformation initiative focused on animal nutrition and well-being. This initiative aims to eliminate future reliance on imported genetics while simultaneously increasing milk production.

The nutrition programme will prioritise efforts to keep the animals comfortable in sweltering conditions, providing them with adequate water, premium-quality hay, and more shaded facilities.

For the past few years, due to factors such as heat stress, farmers have struggled to meet their annual milk quotas. The industry’s output dropped from a peak of six million kilogrammes of raw milk to as low as three to four million kilogrammes.

“In the past, a lot of emphasis was placed on the importation of genetics. We want to shift the focus to nutrition and animal welfare to ensure the livability of these animals,” Butcher explained. “The idea is to avoid expending these resources on livestock genetics again in four years. We plan to work closely with industry players, and even the vendor who sold us these cows has offered the services of a nutritionist, which we intend to utilise.”

Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir announced a suite of forthcoming incentives to support the importation project. These include a young heifer stock replenishment scheme, a 45 per cent rebate on hay purchases for three years, an increased rebate for establishing pasture lands, discounts on farming equipment and supplies, and rebates on innovative and digital technologies for development.