As a child, Byron Booker remembered having animals to tend to after school; something he developed a love for. Many years later, Booker owns his own Goat Farm, with aspirations of scaling up his milk production, to move into Yogurt and Cheese.
“I am trying to cross the breeds to see which would give me the best yield of milk. I have Saanen, Anglo-Nubian and Alpine breeds here but, I like Anglo-Nubians because they are a better breed of goats; the milk-fat is a higher content,” he said.
According to this farmer, his day starts as early as 5 a.m. “I get up around that time and start doing my research. I go to the farm, where I remain until late. When I get here, I check all the animals, I clean the house and feed the animals.”
Although he manages the farm alone, he hires temporary staff to assist with tasks.
Booker has been a full-time farmer for the past 8 years. According to him, his successes so far, are because of research he has done, and the practices implemented. “I have a friend who owns a big farm upstate New York, so we share ideas, challenges and solutions. I also traveled around the Caribbean looking at models of Goat Farms. There are certain practices I observe and try implementing on my farm.”
Nutrition plays an important role in the health and wellbeing of his goats, he explained. “I use local grass, like Lucina – about 60%, and I use 40 % of Goat Feed, because sometimes the nutritional value in the grass alone is not enough. I also use rainwater to give the goats and I ensure that the environment is always clean.”
His favorite thing to do is to sit and look at the transformation of his goats from one stage to the next, he said, “That to me is a beautiful thing, when you can just sit back and look at them and how they have transformed and see how they evolve every day with new habits and patterns. You’re learning from them as well; you’re seeing what they like and don’t like.”
Booker believes that there is a place in Agriculture for the youth. “I wish much more people would have the vision and can see what I am seeing. In the next couple of years, if we plan properly and develop the Livestock Industry, Grenada could be far better off, in terms of meat and food security.”
One of his aspirations is to use the breeds available on his farm to offer a service of crossbreeding for local farmers.
Recipe – GINGER RELISH
Ingredients:
1Tbsp grated ginger
½ cup sweet pepper
¼ cup chopped onion
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
1 Tbsp lemon or lime juice
1 tsp sugar
METHOD
Combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly. Store in a refrigerator
Wet Cocoa Buying Days:
Tuesday April 20th
Carlton, Mt.Horne.
Wednesday April 21st,2021
Bellevue
Carriere
Diamond
Thursday April 22nd,2021
Brothers
Pointzfield
Planting Days – April:
17th – 19th
Plant seedbeds and start flower gardens. Plant tomatoes, beans, peppers, corn, cotton, and other aboveground crops on these most fruit days.
20th – 23rd
Grub out weed, briars, and other plant pests.
24th – 25th
A favourable time for sowing grains, hay, and fodder crops. Plant flowers. Plant corn, melons, squash, tomatoes and other aboveground crops.
