Feeding stuffs
 As with fertilizers, the use of imported balanced feeding rations in agriculture in the
West Indies has grown considerably in recent years, as can be seen from the following
figures:


 Imports of animal feeding stuffs, by territories, 1950, 1955, 1958, and 1960

 Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago British Guiana
 Commodity
 1950 1955 1958 1960 1950 1955 195S 1960 1950 1955 1951 1960

 1,000 pounds 1,000 pounds 1,000 pounds
Grains and cereals 1,059 964 2.241 2,325 3,719 ,76 7,846 2.189 N.A. 210 151 118
Prepared meals 2,491 11.336 30.906 35,963 7,036 366 27.448 s,562 N.A. 4,997 1,993 15,089
Other kinds 802 1,129 1,303 1,267 2,635 6,363 N.A. 641 279 707

Source: Data and materialdeveloped during the study and other available data.




 The most spectacular increase is in prepared meals, and about 75% of this is poultry
rations. The figure for this item fluctuate in Trinidad and Tobago somewhat, but it is
thought that this to some extent follows the trends in the poultry industry due to Newcastle
disease.

 Rice, corn and pulses all contribute something to stock feed in the West Indies, but one
of the most important locally produced livestock foods is coconut meal. This is tradition-
ally fed to pigs, and an expansion in pig numbers usually accompanies expansion of the
coconut industry. One expert (Ref. S. 5. 4. ), however, suggests that coconut meal should
be sold for export, and pigs should be fed on imported balanced rations. Pigs, sheep and
goats are usually scavengers, and only a minority are fed a proper ration, however.
While it is thought that the practice of rearing pigs on scientific feeding principles will
increase, it seems unlikely that there will be a drastic revolution in feeding methods such
as that which has recently taken place for poultry.

 In line with our projections of livestock numbers, and allowing for more increase in
 scientific feeding, we project the import demand for feeding stuff as follows:


1960 and projected annual import demand for feeding stuffs in
 Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and British Guiana

 Commodity 1960 1965 1970 1975
 1,000 pounds

Grains and cereals 4,632 5,790 7,133 8,569
Prepared meals 59,614 80,470 98,360 113,266
Other kinds 8,373 11,303 13,815 15,909