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Jamaica Hope: The dairy breed for the tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2011

J.A. Holness ,
A. Brown  and
C. Harris
J.A. Holness
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Bodles Research Station, Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica W.I.
A. Brown
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Bodles Research Station, Old Harbour, St. Catherine, Jamaica W.I.
C. Harris
Affiliation:
Jamaica Livestock Association, Newport East Kingston, Jamaica W.I.
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Summary

Experimentation in breeding dairy cattle for the tropics began in Jamaica at Hope Farm in 1910 with local cattle, temperate dairy breeds and the infusion of the Sahiwal (Zebu) breed.

The research results, which also influenced farmers' operations, indicated the superiority of the grade Jersey for production and fertility, which was considered to be the result of adaptation. Thereafter, breeding inter se, a tropical dairy breed, the Jamaica Hope was established and was declared in 1952. The formation of the Jamaica Hope Cattle Breeders’ Society immediately followed.

The breed has shown a high level of productivity under wide ranging husbandry conditions. The highest yields have been above 8 800 litres of milk in 305 days.

The MOET technique of reproduction will be employed in the expansion of the breed.

Resumen

La experimentación en mejora de bovinos de leche en la zona tropical comenzó en Jamaica en la Hope Farm en 1910 con una raza local, razas de leche de zonas templadas y con la raza Sahiwal (Zebu).

Los resultados de las investigaciones mostraron la superioridad de la raza Grade Jersey para la producción y la fertilidad; que se pensó era el resultado de una buena adaptación. Más adelante, con los cruzamientos inter se, se llegó a una raza lechera de zona tropical, la Jamaica Hope, que fue reconocida y declarada como tal en 1952.

A esto siguió el establecimiento de la Asociación de Ganaderos de la Raza Bovina Jamaica Hope.

La raza ha mostrado un alto nivel de productividad en condiciones intensivas. Los mayores rendimientos han sido de aproximadamente 8 000 litros de leche en 305 días.

La técnica MOET de reproducción será empleada para la expansión de esta raza.

Keywords

Jamaica HopeTropical Dairy BreedProductionFertilityAdaptation
Type
Research Articles
Information
Animal Genetic Resources/Resources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales , Volume 31 , April 2001 , pp. 37 - 42
Copyright
Copyright © Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2001

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References

Cousins, H.H. 1933. History of Hope Farm, Government Printing Office, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, 308 pp.Google Scholar
Lecky, T.P. 1949. The Hope Jerseys, Bulletin No. 42, Department of Agriculture, Jamaica, Government Printing Office, Kingston, Jamaica West Indies, 62 pp.Google Scholar
Lecky, T.P. 1951. Genetic Improvement in Dairy Cattle for the Tropics. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 165 pp.Google Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Jamaica. 1972. The Development of the Jamaica Hope, Animal Husbandry Bulletin No. 2, Dairy Cattle Research Branch, Division of Livestock Research, Bodles Old Harbour, Jamaica, 77 pp.Google Scholar