41. Breeding for Milk Production in the Tropics

Abstract

A Fresh milk supply is as essential in the tropics as it is in the more temperate regions of the world. The most fundamental of the many problems connected with tropical dairying is that concerned with the establishment of breeds of dairy cattle which will live and thrive in their environment, and produce milk; the intensity of the problem varies with the degree of severity of the climatic and environmental conditions. The manner in which this problem has been dealt with at the Government Stock Farms at Kingston, Jamaica, together with the results, is discussed in the following study. The data were collected by Mr J. Hammond from the records of the herds at these farms. To Mr H. H. Cousins, the Director of Agriculture, who has not only built up the herd to its present state of excellence but has kept also a complete record of the pedigrees and performances of all the animals, and to Dr S. Lockett, Veterinary Officer for the Department, our thanks are due for having put these records at our disposal and for communicating to us the results of their experience.