George Henry, Gleaner Writer

Rufus Farquharson feeding one of his prized cattle in Newton, St. Elizabeth. - Contributed

Malvern, St. Elizabeth:

Sixty-six-year-old Rufus Farquharson has been a cattle farmer for more than three decades. However, most of those years were spent tending to cattle that belonged to his employer near Newton in St. Elizabeth.

Today, Mr. Farquharson has his own farm, also in Newton, and has been busy building his herd stock over the last four years. He balances that with his day job as a support staff at the Newton Primary School, where he sometimes feed the animals in the heavily-grassed fields. The St. Elizabeth farmer also grew peanuts, but decided to get out because it was not doing well.

Started with one heifer

He noted that working with cattle was always in his blood. Mr. Farquharson told Farmers Weekly that he started with only one heifer. He currently has six prized animals. Mr. Farquharson said his aim was to produce enough animals to supply the beef industry, while helping to reduce or eliminate the importation of beef into the island.

Urges feed subsidy

"I believe we as small farmers can help in a big way to stop the importation of beef into Jamaica, if we get the necessary things to assist us in the production," Mr. Farquharson said. "If we get subsidy on things like bag feed and other important things associated with cattle farming, the majority of persons involved in beef farming could do better than we currently are doing, and help reduce beef importation," he reasoned.

Though being a victim to cattle thieves on at least one occasion, the cattle farmer insisted that it would not deter him from doing what he loves. He said he has taken steps to protect his animals, and that he is satisfied that they were working.