THE BELIZE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY A BRIEF ACCOUNT By Harold Parham Chief Executive Officer Belize Livestock Producers Association April 29 th 2009
Domestic Livestock of Economic Importance Cattle Pig Sheep and Goat Horses Poultry
BREEDS OF CATTLE Beef type Brahman Nelore Indu Brazil Hereford Angus Charolais Charbray Beef Master Simbrah Belgian Blue Red Pol Dairy Type Holstein Brown Swiss (Creole)
BREEDS OF PIGS Landrace Large White Duroc PIC
SHEEP and GOAT Sheep Barbados Black Belly Dorper Pelibuey Katahdin Goat Anglo Nubian Boer
Industry Performance National Herd 2005 2006 2007 2008 Beef fcattle 63,038 67,611611 72,826 81,328 Pigs 15,387 14,533 12,403 13,146 Sheep 5,842 7,770 9,645 9,911 Dairy 3,914 3,592 Chicken 29.3m 27.8m Turkey 0.4m 0.06m
HERD IMPROVEMENT
Imported Stock Cattle Nelore Brahman Charolais Euro Simbrah Swiss 2006 Bull 41 16 1 Cow 1 3 13 Hiefer Calf 1 2007 Bull 54 19 Cow 100 6 1 40
Imported Stock Cattle Nelore Brahman Brangus 2008 Bulls 36 17 14 Heifers 6
Imported Stock Small Ruminants 2006 2007 Sheep (Dorper) Rams Ewes 16 15 11 356 Goat (Boer) Rams Ewes 3 87
Slaughter and Export 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Beef Cattle Local 6,114 5,496 5,858 6,126 6,186 Export 2,804 3,210 1,609 4,670 4,226 Pigs Local 14,934 12,784 16,635 16,979 15,701 Export 41 2,083 1,058 1,038 - Sheep Local 785 842 900 804 964 *Poultry (birds) Export - - 230 - - Chicken 8.5m 8.3m Turkey 28 th. 4.8 th. *Eggs (doz) 2.95m 3.37m
Livestock Prices The prices for beef cattle (live weight) are as follows: feeders, $1.15/lb; young bulls and steers, $1.05 to $1.15 depending on the quality of the animal; heifer, $1.15; cows, $0.90 to $1.00. Pigs were purchased at prices ranging from $1.70 to $1.85 per pound live weight. Sheep were selling for up to $2.00 to $2.25 per pound live weight.
Major Stakeholders Ministry i of Agriculture Producers Butchers and Processors Meat Outlets Buyers and traders Consumers BLPA BAHA
Ministry of Agricultre Placed livestock development high h on its agenda. Policy Objectives are: To improve the competitiveness of the various sub sector activities, To strengthen backward and forward linkages in the domestic economy, To promote value adding and significantly expand the diversity it of processed meat products, To achieve higher levels of self sufficiency from domestic production, To contribute to food security and improving the nutritional status of the population, To exploit export market opportunities.
Efforts of the GOB maintains i operations for producing and distributing breeding stock of cattle (beef and dairy), sheep and goat to sell to producers The main operation is carried out at the Agricultural Research and Development Center, Central Farm. Three district stations, Yo Creek in the Orange Walk District, the Agriculture Station in Stann Creek and the Agriculture Station in Toledo
Implemented various projects intended for the development of the livestock industry: In 1974 to 1989 the Forage Legume and Pasture Research Programme In 1989 the Belize Livestock Development Project, which was funded by USAID Livestock development was a major component of the Toledo Small Farmers Development Project, an IFAD funded project which started in 1988, the USAID Belize Livestock Development Project Phase II, the GOB established the FONDO O Ganadero Partnership Programme to offer low interest credit to small and medium size farmers
Provision of Extension Services to the Industry The Ministry of Agriculture continues to provide extension service to the livestock producers. Currently, the Ministry has one extension officer in each district to deal specifically with livestock development
Producers Approximately 12,000 producers About 85% rear some type of livestock More than 3000 producers raise cattle (beef or dairy) Consumers Household Hotels and restaurants
Butchers and Processors Nine major slaughtering and processing facilities three does only slaughtering and sell fresh/chilled carcasses; three slaughter and sell fresh/chilled carcasses and also sell fresh/chilled hill and frozen packaged cuts; three only sell fresh/chilled cuts. Of the nine, four also does processing of hams, bacons, sausages, patties, etc. In times of shortages or excessive demands for special products the processors and importers are allowed to import to meet the shortfall.
The Belize Livestock Producers Association Established under the Meat ad Livestock Act, Chapter 214 of the Laws of Belize as the instrument under the Meat and Livestock Commission with the purpose of carrying out the function of the Act
The Mission Statement The Belize Livestock Producers Association is dedicated to promote the Development of the Livestock Industry and protect the welfare of its members.
The Objectives of the BLPA Provide technical and other information by providing training, seminars and workshops and in printed material (hard copies and electronic copies); Provide educational and training facilities in the Livestock industry; Solicit development grants and low interest funding to ensure access to affordable financing to the producers Encouraging and promoting the production of better livestock by ensuring access and supply of good genetics;
The Objectives of the BLPA Promoting production of diverse livestock products offered to consumers Promote increased local consumption of livestock products; To ensure that Belize meets the standard requirements for international trade in livestock and livestock products by; and Establish market access for livestock and livestock products nationally and internationally.
Belize Agricultural Health Authority Given the responsibility for issues relating to plant health, animal health, quarantine, and food safety. The Authority is the National Competent Authority and augmented to become a highly effective inspection and certification agency.
Local Market Potential
Meats Imports Ct Categories 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Beef Special cuts 6,403 8,238 8,751 13,642 12,470 Processed 709,460 804,692 115,025 41,961 56,755 Other 4,635 5,674 7,290 4,477 7,433 Sheep 1,327 2,196 2,855 3,312 6,393 Pigs Ham, 248,474 200,079 198,782 254,771 212,698 Shoulder Bacon 44,763 18,882 16,570 20,572 15,984 Other Meats 80,982-29,614 38,760 91,939 Pork salted, 986,145-717,932 1,142,309 1,224,592 Brined
Export Potential The demand in Guatemala and Mexico for Beef, pigs, sheep and Poultry from Belize cannot be accurately quantified. However, the figures for export of beef pigs showed tremendous increase over the past three to four years. These increases may indicate a strong market in these countries
Export Potential in the Caribbean Table 3 Imports of meats of Beef and Small Ruminants and Milk In metric tons (Avg 2001-2003) 2003) Beef Small Milk Ruminants Antigua and Barbuda 215 87 5107 Bahamas 8122 1774 30622 Barbados 3332 1502 28600 Belize 455 5 19437 Dominica 194 47 8631 Dominican Republic 270 74 78067 Grenada 625 29 11532 Guyana 306 6 52998 Haiti 168 0 63477 Jamaica 6233 4636 107463 St Kits and Nevis 553 120 5809 St Lucia 1258 1015 21301 St Vincent/Grenadines 784 40 9950 Surinam 808 10 10590 Trinidad and Tobago 5999 1796 134106
Constraints of the Industry Unaffordable finance, Lack of established formal market mechanisms and firm market arrangements, Inadequate institutional and Industry support
There is a lot more to say but Thank you for your patients and attention