AN ORGANIZATION dedicated to preserving the genes of the Barbados Black Belly Sheep will soon be set up in Barbados.
Barbados Sheep and Goat Farmers Inc. president Wayne Smith said this had become necessary to avoid excessive inbreeding.
“The Barbados Black Belly Sheep Breed Society has started and will be registered within a few weeks. It will play a critical role in seeing after the genetic material of Black Belly Sheep by preserving the animal’s genetic resource to ensure we always have the best available to us.
“Artificial insemination is not a viable option for sheep so our best bet is proven rams . . . but inbreeding may become a problem unless we educate farmers,” he said.
