Title: Livestock Production in Unfavourable Economic

Environments

Sub-title: Strategies for attaining Sustainable Competitive

Advantage

Author: P.G.A. Jennings, Ph.D.

Publisher: BookSurge LLC (2006)

Bookseller: Amazon.com

Reviewer: Francis Asiedu Ph.D., CARDI

The book, Livestock Production in Unfavourable Economic Environments is primarily a compilation of scholarly writings in scientific media and presentations at public forums on the Jamaican Dairy Cattle Industry. However, it also touches on improved production and productivity for Beef Cattle, Sheep & Goats and Swine.

The book has just over 350 pages and includes: 23 chapters grouped into six thematic sections, glossary and conversion tables, three appendices and an index.

In the preface of the book, the author alludes to a paradoxical thesis. He quotes the World Bank forecast that:

By 2020 livestock production would account for 30 per cent of global agricultural output

Developing countries are projected to become the main suppliers and consumers of this increased output

The paradox, however, is that global economic realignment is heavily weighed against the same developing countries. Dr. Jennings, therefore, posits that for sustained international competitiveness under such conditions, Jamaica and other developing countries must develop production systems that optimise individual animal output, rather than the strategy of maximising animal output pursued in earlier decades.

In section one, policy and strategic issues necessary to advance the Jamaica Dairy Industry are addressed. Dr. Jennings starts by declaring his optimism for the future of the Jamaica Dairy Industry. This optimism is predicated on anticipated enhanced partnership between Government, Jamaica Hope Breed Society and Jamaica Dairy Farmers' Federation.

In sections two and three the author further develops the theme on the use of pastures, specifically grass pastures, together with strategic supplementation for dairy production in Jamaica.

In these sections, he dwells on extensive research conducted by himself and other colleagues and supported with a body of literature. The focus was on African Star Grass and Tifton 85 Bermuda grass. The main test animal was the Jamaica Hope breed, although the small-bodied New Zealand Friesian cattle was also evaluated at the Serge Island Farms Ltd.

Dr. Jennings takes the reader, in section, four through the wealth of knowledge accumulated, principally on research stations, on the potential of forage legumes and sugar cane for livestock production in Jamaica. However, he surmises that the traditional approaches of trying to utilise particularly herbaceous forage legumes in grass-legume associations have not fared very well and new utilisation methods suitable for on-farm situations will need to be explored. On the other hand, he is sanguine about sugar cane and concludes Chapter 16 with the words, "With 'sweet rations', milk might very well be 'sweeter' than sugar!"

As mentioned earlier, the book is not only about dairy production; it also examines other livestock production systems. In this penultimate section, he proposes models, based on experimental data, for beef cattle production from well-managed grass pastures. Also, he provides dissertations on integrated production systems such as, dual purpose milk/beef production, mixed cattle/sheep grazing systems, swine/small ruminant integrated system based on sugar cane, biogas production and the use of effluent in integrated production systems and alley cropping system.

In the last section of the book, the author returns to the core theme of the book, i.e. the Jamaican Dairy Industry. Here, he picks up the thread on the two most critical actors on whom the sustainability of the industry depends - the small farmers and the consumer. He suggests a proper convergence between production technology and marketing to ensure profitability to the farmer and affordability to the consumer.

He lists the factors required to achieve these purposes as: the availability of good genetic resources in the Jamaica Hope, adopting technical strategies for cost-effective milk production (reduced calf mortality, reduced age at first calving and improved efficiency and effectiveness of feed use), streamlining milk marketing and addressing other constraints to small farmer milk production.

In chapter 22, he throws the spotlight on small dairy farming. Small farmer milk production, it is suggested, represents the area of greatest growth and development potential. He points to the history of that sector's moderately successful models of farmer organisation - Mother Farm/Satellite Farms and Cooperative Dairy Farming.

In the final chapter of the book, Dr. Jennings reiterates his optimism and vision for the Jamaican Dairy Industry which were conceived some two decades ago, and with which he started the book.

When one would have finished reading the book, one would come to the conclusion that, indeed, this is a book for all. There is something in it for:

- Policy makers and Planners

- Researchers

- Livestock producers

- Extension staff

- Students

Foot note: Dr. Francis Asiedu is the country representative in Jamaica for the Caribbean Agriculture and Research Development Institute (CARDI).