34 FARMERS GRADUATE FROM DEWORMING COURSE: livestock health training aims to boost productivity

Thirty-four farmers in the British Virgin Islands have finished a livestock deworming course run by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College's Learning Resource Centre.

The Department's director, Theodore E James, called the attendance a significant achievement for the Territory's farming community. He told participants that their decision to spend a day learning showed commitment to raising animal care standards across the islands. "Thirty-four farmers took a day away from their farms to invest in their own knowledge and in the health of their animals. That tells us our farmers are serious about raising the standard of livestock care in the Virgin Islands, and the Department is proud to stand with them," Mr. James said.

The training focused on gastrointestinal parasites that affect livestock, with special emphasis on the barber pole worm found in sheep and goats. Participants learned to spot symptoms requiring treatment and were introduced to faecal egg counts and the FAMACHA chart as methods for deciding which animals need deworming.

Hands-on demonstrations allowed farmers to practise key skills. They worked with weight tapes to estimate animal size, calculated correct dewormer doses and practised giving treatment properly. The course also covered pasture management and proper dewormer use as ways to manage parasites while slowing resistance to drugs.

Mr. James encouraged farmers to think of their operations as businesses and their animals as critical investments. "Your livestock are the assets that bring in the money, and a business that neglects its main asset won't last long," he said. He also highlighted record keeping as essential: "A CEO doesn't run a business without books, and a farmer shouldn't run a herd without records."

Each of the 34 participants received a certificate at the end of the workshop. The Department said it plans to run additional training sessions in coming months covering crops, livestock, fish farming and beekeeping.