(no subject)
This weekend was awesome... all i have to say is cave tubing, panty rippers (that's the name of a mixed drink, i swear!), reggae concert, and skinny dipping (even though i didn't get to go zip-lining or repelling, that's ok).
Now for the boring stuff
June 11, 2007
Today was spent hearing lectures at Galen. In the morning, two representatives from Porcasa Piggery came and informed us about their work breeding pigs in Belize and other parts of Central America. It was difficult to understand them sometimes, but what I found the most interesting is that they said that they have very few problems with disease in Belize. It seems that they have an efficient system for breeding and processing that must be very profitable for them (especially if they sell the A.I. semen for $100 per dose). We also talked about pig breeds and health in the morning. I knew absolutely nothing about pig farming before today. Learning about all of the parasites that pigs are susceptible to and can pass on to humans, it made me feel that much better that BAHA and the Belizean government controls the industry so strongly to keep the prevalence of pig diseases at the low levels Belize currently has. After lunch, we learned about cattle in Belize. I knew the basics about ruminants from classes at Penn State, but I didn’t know about all of the breeds. It makes sense that the most important trait for the breeds to have in Belize is the heat and sun tolerance. However, it seems that the farmers could be better informed on why certain breeds work better rather than following what new breed the government brings in. Perhaps if the government could start a program that could bring that information to the farmers, both the government and farmers could benefit. While some of the disease the cattle suffer here are the same as those I’ve heard more about in the U.S. (like mastitis and bloat), the mineral deficiencies (especially selenium and iodine) seem like they are due to the soil deficiencies here.
Loving Belize, but still love you all too!,
Sammy Jane
Now for the boring stuff
June 11, 2007
Today was spent hearing lectures at Galen. In the morning, two representatives from Porcasa Piggery came and informed us about their work breeding pigs in Belize and other parts of Central America. It was difficult to understand them sometimes, but what I found the most interesting is that they said that they have very few problems with disease in Belize. It seems that they have an efficient system for breeding and processing that must be very profitable for them (especially if they sell the A.I. semen for $100 per dose). We also talked about pig breeds and health in the morning. I knew absolutely nothing about pig farming before today. Learning about all of the parasites that pigs are susceptible to and can pass on to humans, it made me feel that much better that BAHA and the Belizean government controls the industry so strongly to keep the prevalence of pig diseases at the low levels Belize currently has. After lunch, we learned about cattle in Belize. I knew the basics about ruminants from classes at Penn State, but I didn’t know about all of the breeds. It makes sense that the most important trait for the breeds to have in Belize is the heat and sun tolerance. However, it seems that the farmers could be better informed on why certain breeds work better rather than following what new breed the government brings in. Perhaps if the government could start a program that could bring that information to the farmers, both the government and farmers could benefit. While some of the disease the cattle suffer here are the same as those I’ve heard more about in the U.S. (like mastitis and bloat), the mineral deficiencies (especially selenium and iodine) seem like they are due to the soil deficiencies here.
Loving Belize, but still love you all too!,
Sammy Jane