By Damion Mitchell, Staff ReporterTHE NUMBER of cattle on exhibition at the annual Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show at Denbigh, central Clarendon, hit an all-time low this year with only five farms participating. Four were Government-financed.
According to Dr. Karl Wellington, chairman of the Jamaica Red Poll Cattle Breeders' Society, this showing is consistent with a declining trend in participation from cattle farmers since the 1990s. On average, 15 farms are represented at Denbigh annually.
He said that while the animals on exhibition were of high quality over the years, "showing (of cattle) is one of the things you cannot afford to do when the industry is facing an economic crisis."
Years ago, Dr. Wellington said, the Denbigh Agri-Industrial Show was an appropriate way to advertise farms. However, with the decline in the cattle industry, "Your advertisement no longer has the desired effect."
Additionally, he said, the prize money awarded for champion animals was nominal compared to the cost involved in preparing and transporting them to Denbigh. On average a farmer receives $1,000 for each champion animal.
Dr. Wellington, who is the proprietor of Y.S. Farms, has been exhibiting cattle at Denbigh for 15 years. This year he opted to back out.
MINIMAL INTEREST
Lorin Gayle, manager of Fairview Farms, St. Elizabeth, was the only private cattle exhibitor. "The price (for cattle) is very low and so many people are not interested in this thing again," he told The Gleaner in an interview. He suggested that more farmers would exhibit their animals if the prize money was more attractive.
The other participating farms were Ebony Park HEART Academy, Minard Farms, Bodles Research, and Walden Farms.
Mr. Gayle said that although cattle-rearing was unprofitable, butchers were "making it" from beef sales. And, according to Dr. Wellington, the success of the industry depends on several conditions. "If the situation changes as it relates to the marketing of cattle and if some of the punitive taxation that we are suffering are minimised (including GCT on some inputs and the property tax) then people will think again," he said.
