Info on Mr. Kerry Alfred (part owner of Kerriyah Farms: 

EDUCATION 

1993-1995 Tertiary: Diploma in Livestock Production and Management

Institution: Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants (R.E.P.A.H.A), Guyana  

2. Master of Science in Tropical Animal Science and Production– University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad, Trinidad and Tobago West Indies. 

1. Certificate: Meat Fabrication, Hygiene and Sanitary Slaughter of Small Ruminants: Sugar Cane Feed Centre 

 Mr. Kerry Alfred – Mr. Alfred brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the business with over twenty (20) years’ experience in livestock production. He holds an M.Sc. Degree in Animal Science and Production and his thesis was centred on nutrition in ruminants and rabbits using local available raw materials and forages (grasses and legumes). 

Work Experience  

 (I) Started as a Livestock Technician with the Division of Agriculture, Tobago House of Assembly from 6th September, 1996 to September, 2007.  

Responsibilities included: 

1. Managing the following classes of livestock on the Government Stock Farm: pigs, rabbits, poultry, small ruminants and cattle (dairy and beef). 

1. Designed and kept and updated livestock records monthly in areas mentioned in (1. Above). 

1. Prepared, updated and submitted to the Agricultural Assistant 111, Livestock monthly, quarterly and annual livestock returns for the entire station. 

1. Collaborated with the Artificial Insemination unit on insemination of animals on the station. 

1. Procurement of breeding stock in consultation with the Agricultural Assistant111 and the Agricultural Officer 1. 

1.  Preparation of estimates for the purchase of feed, equipment and other requisite items. 

1. Supervised workers in the designated areas under my purview 

1. Assisted in sales of livestock and livestock products by issuing of the relevant documents- check lists and receipts. 

1. Assisted in the transfers of feeds, equipment and material by issuing of relevant documents- cartage receipts and issue/requisition vouchers. 

1. Assisted in coordinating and conducting on-farm training programmes. 

(II) Farm School Instructor (Livestock) from October, 2007 to 2016, worked at the Kendal Farm School (the premier agricultural training institution on the island) supervising livestock and livestock related staff and conducting training in the field of Livestock Production with the Division of Agriculture, Tobago House of Assembly. Responsibilities include: 

1. Manage Livestock Production 

• Managing all classes of livestock on station. 

• Managing breeding cycles and artificial inseminaton planning inclusive of synchronization programmes. 
• Managing progeny care and assignment task on farm. 
• Forage and pasture management. 
• Managing nutrition-programme and planning on station. 
• Liase with veterinarian to formulate annual health care programmes. 

1. Livestock Records 

• Manage multi-channel digital input system for farm records. 
• Data analysis of records for generating 2nd order data reports. 

1. Conduct training in livestock production 

• Prepare teaching syllabus for Y.A.P.A. students. 
• Prepare weekly examinations in both theory and practical for ongoing student assessments 
• Prepare and conduct various livestock seminars throughout Tobago for ongoing livestock education programmes. 

1. Setting up and Implementation of livestock projects 

• Project proposal planning whereby new initiatives are proposed with attendant projections. 
• Project implementation whereby approved plans are set up and monitored over initial phases. 
• Continued monitoring and evaluation. This is the ongoing monitoring and modifying/adjusting of projects to deal with real time situations. 

(111) December 2016 to 2018 headed the Rabbit Extension Unit to improve rabbit production on the island of Tobago which then involved the following: 

1. Identifying all the rabbit farmers on the island and getting them registered, 

1. Creating a database for all rabbit farmers, 

1. Conducting training sessions in rabbit production on the island. 

1. Being responsible for Artificial Insemination in rabbits on the island. 

              (1V) Assigned to the Artificial Insemination Unit from 2018 – 2020 with 

responsibilities for supervising the Artificial Insemination Technicians. 

             (V) 2020 – present: Assigned to the main office at Milsherv Building where he is responsible professional work in the field of livestock production and research.  

He’s responsible for planning and executing production and research programmes for livestock breeding and management. Work involves research testing of different breeds among various kinds of livestock, particularly dairy animals and small ruminants, assessing their adaptability to local conditions, developing improved strains and management techniques and advising the division accordingly. Supervision is exercised over professional and other personnel engaged in the livestock programme. He’s allowed a considerable degree of independent judgment on professional matters within the framework of established policies. Work however, is subject to review by the Technical Officer for efficiency of programme administered through analysis of reports and field observations. 

 Examples of my job includes 

• Supervises technical and non-technical officers engaged in livestock production and research; 

• Advises the division on matters relating to breeding and husbandry of farm animals and the development of programme for improved breeding and husbandry  
• Collects and collates information on farm breeding, feeding and management, evaluates data collected and submits reports and recommendations; 
• Develops improved strains of animals through controlled breeding programmes; 
• Evaluates the adaptability of different strains to local conditions and prepares reports; 
• Plans breeding schedules for livestock; 

• Manages the maintenance of livestock; 
• Develops improved practices in care and management of dairy herds and small ruminants in the use of improved buildings and equipment.  
• Supervises the technical aspect of the Artificial Insemination Service. 
• Performs other livestock related duties as may be required. 

Management Team 

Mrs. Gail Phillips- Alfred – Mrs. Alfred is a certified accounting technician with over ten (10) years’ experience, who has not only provided a solid accounting formula for day to day financial management, but has also been instrumental in setting up computerized databases that allow for easy integration of all production units into a smoothly run fiscal operation.  

Dr. Michael Downes – a qualified veterinary surgeon brings over twenty (20) years experience with a wealth of knowledge on bio-security and disease prevention and management. 

Farming experience 

From 1995 – February, 2008 had my own forty (40) ewe unit which comprised of West African, Barbados Blackbelly ewes and crosses of the two breeds. Dorper rams were used to breed ewes which produced lambs carrying birth weights of 12 – 15lbs, weaning weights of 40 – 50lbs @ 2.5 – 3 months and at 4.5 to 5 months live weights of sometimes 115 – 120lbs in males and females 110 – 115 lbs. 

• 2008- Established Kerriyah Farms with 8 breeding does.  
• 2010- The expansion from a 20 doe unit to a 74 doe unit, with the construction of a new rabbitry.  

• From a nucleus of eight (8) does the farm has experienced a rapid growth of over seventy (70) breeding does producing over 400 pounds of high quality rabbit meat per month. 
• Kerriyah Farms is the first farm to utilize Artificial Insemination in rabbits commercially in Trinidad and Tobago and possibly in the Caribbean.