In 1976 the Sugarcane Feeds Centre was established by the Mc. Gill University of Canada as a collaborative five (5) year project with the University of the West Indies. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago became responsible for its operations in 1981 through the Ministry of Agriculture.

The primary role and function of the Centre is applied research, development, demonstration and training in integrated agricultural systems. The Centre utilizes local and on-farm forage and crop resources together with agro by-products for animal feeding and crop production.

The mandate of the SFC is demonstration, training, development, research and teaching in integrated agricultural production systems for sustainable food production and food safety.

Livestock and livestock related areas of concentration at the Centre include; ruminants- dairy cattle, beef and buffalypso meat production, goat and sheep; monogastrics;- rabbits, pigs and poultry; integrated aquaculture of tilapia, cascadura and black river conch; neo-tropical animal production models, forage and crop production, abattoir facilities,  waste management, research and development, extension, demonstration and training.

 

• Sale of meat and meat products including fish.
• Abattoir
• Dissemination of information to farmers, students thought field Demonstrations and Training.
• Incinerator facilities for waste disposal.
• Sales of manure and compost.
• Use of Training Facilities.

 

(a) Rabies Control.

The Anti-Rabies Unit (ARU)

• Control of Vampire Bat (rabies vector) populations through, routine monitoring of known roosts, identification of location of new roosts.
• Investigation of bat biting incidents in livestock.
• Annual rabies vaccination of livestock in collaboration with district Veterinary Officers.
• Prevention of the spread of rabies in livestock during outbreaks through Ring vaccinations.
• Provision of public awareness programmes on Rabies.
• Provision of advice to the public on the control of bat infestation in public and private building.

(b) Poultry Surveillance Unit (PSU)

• Inspection and issuance of landing permits for imported eggs and live poultry at airports and seaports.
  At designated ports of entry, eligibility for import is assessed and landing permits are issued.
• Passive poultry disease surveillance through routine poultry farm visits and investigation of reports of feral bird deaths.
• Advisory Service to Poultry Farmers on farm site selection and housing good husbandry practices, nutritional management, disease prevention and control, biosecurity and Food Safety.

(c )  Quarantine and Airport Services

• Issuance of landing permits for animals and animal products into Trinidad at all designated ports of entry.
• Verification that entry requirements of all imported animals and animal products are met.
• Inspection of live animals for export.
• Daily Monitoring of horses during the stipulated quarantine period at Santa Rosa Equine Quarantine facility and National Animal Disease Equine Quarantine facility.
• Inspection of premises for authorization to become temporary Government-approved Quarantine facilities at the discretion of the Chief Veterinary Officer.
• Field Services supervised by the district Veterinary Officers
• Regulatory: services to coordinate and implement Veterinary preventative medicine programmes re: Rabies vaccination of livestock.
• Disease Surveillance including but not limited to the following:

Bovine Tuberculosis, Brucellosis, Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV) Disease, Johne’s disease, Caseous Lymphadenitis (CLA) and Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE).

• Ambulatory Service to Livestock Farmers on clinical cases both treatment and preventative medicine measures and surgical cases (both elective and emergency procedures).
• Advisory Service to Livestock Farmers on good husbandry practices, nutritional and reproductive management, disease prevention, animal welfare and biosecurity.

• Provision of a reliable supply of forage (freshly harvested and finely chopped) to livestock farmers.

Issuance of import permits for dogs, cats, horses, birds, sheep, goats, cattle, Day-old chicks, Broiler Hatching eggs, table eggs, meat and poultry products, dairy/ milk-based and egg-based products, pet food, feathers, leather etc.

Applications for permits are assessed to ensure all requirements have been met in compliance with the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago.

Issuance of export permits.

The export permits are issued for animals and animal products in compliance with requirements set by the country of Import.

Endorsement of export veterinary health certificates.

Health certificates are endorsed for the export of live animals.

Applications for import and export permits for animal products are online at ttbiz link.

(a)   Distribution through the sale of healthy pedigree livestock (cattle, sheep, goat, and rabbits) to farmers.

(b) Farm visits to livestock farmers who wish to purchase stock and to ensure conditions on the farm can accommodate animals. Information is provided to assist farmers in this area.

(c) Dissemination of information to livestock farmers and students through field trips/visits to the facilities via, pre-arranged guided tours.

Provision of high quality genetics to the farming community through the Artificial Insemination service for cattle, water buffaloes, goats, sheep, pigs and rabbits.

• Regulatory Assisting in the enforcement of the Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act (1954) and the Regulations made thereunder.
• Preventative: The prevention and control of notifiable and other diseases by efficient diagnosis of index cases.
• Diagnostic: Through the provision of specialized laboratory services for the diagnosis of animal diseases including diseases of public health and food safety significance. The diagnostic support services include necropsy histopathology, microbiology, hematology, serology and parasitology. The shipping of biological samples in compliance with international regulations are also facilitated.
• Investigative: Facilitate the investigation of animal diseases through coordinated surveillance programs with the field services.

Diagnostic Services are provided to State Veterinary Officers, who provide clinical and preventative medicine services to the local livestock farmers. Additionally, services are provided to Private Veterinarians in companion, exotic and farm animal practice.

The VDL also facilitates diagnostic testing for the Emperor Valley Zoo, the Veterinary Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health, the Wildlife Section, Forestry Division (Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries) and several private institutions.