Jamaica Dairy Development Board boosts sector with shelter support

JAMAICA – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, through the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB), has been extending support to small cattle farmers by providing shelter solutions for their animals.

This initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen the resilience and productivity of Jamaica’s dairy sector, ensuring that farmers can better safeguard their livestock against harsh weather conditions and improve overall animal welfare.

Officials note that the provision of shelters is not only about protecting cattle but also about enhancing milk yields and reducing losses that often occur when animals are exposed to stress or inadequate housing.

“There is a drive to ensure that what we call ‘cow comfort’ is taken into account in the design of the modern dairy… to ensure that the cows are [kept] cool. As you would have seen, Tru Juice has followed that model,” stated Portfolio Minister, Hon. Floyd Green.

“What the Ministry has been doing through the Jamaica Dairy Development Board is for our smallholder cattle farmers who are less able to follow that model because, as you know, they have their dairy cattle out in the field and they don’t have this sort of infrastructure. So we’ve been doing communal infrastructure,” he added.

The programme reflects the government’s commitment to empowering small-scale farmers, who form the backbone of Jamaica’s dairy production.

With improved infrastructure and targeted support, these farmers are expected to benefit from higher productivity, better market access, and stronger income stability.

 A dairy equipment lease programme is currently in place, explaining that one of the challenges farmers face is the lack of access to necessary equipment.

Approximately 200 Jersey cattle are to be imported into the island as part of efforts to boost production levels. Additionally, extensive research had been conducted over the past few years on the protein content of grass.

“We actually have a private-sector company called FANS (Farm & Animal Nutrition Solutions Ltd.) that we brought in, and they can come to your pasture, conduct the on-the-spot analysis, and advise you on what you need to plant to ensure that you’re getting the right nutritional regime,” Mr. Green added.