By Maimuma Sey Jawo
Gam-Sheep Breeders and Professional sheep Breeders Association in collaboration with its Senegalese counterpart on Saturday hosted ‘Ladoum-Sheep’ show at Abuko.
The competition was staged to find the nation’s most huge, strong and robust sheep. It was the first-edition stuck show in the country.
These Ladoum sheep breeding was founded and initiated by the neighboring country, Senegal, where the sheep are given names (titles) and kept inside homes or farms as companions but they are the most expensive sheep in West Africa.
The “Ladoum-sheep” are huge and majestic — rams can weigh as much as three grown men. Some Ladoum look more like bulls (cows) than sheep.
However, the event was meant to promote sheep breeding and agriculture in The Gambia and most importantly, to promote breeding as a venture with potential to reduce importation of sheep in Gambia.
“This been the first edition show, it is a very commendable action and it represents the growing interest livestock in agricultural sector,” a statement from Gambia’s leader read by Seedy Keita, Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment – who was representing the President Adama Barrow.
According to him, he said the president of The Gambia has shown commitment and support to the agriculture sector and livestock in particular.
“It has been observed that 95 percent of livestock (sheep) we imports are from Senegal, Mali and Mauritania. We duly noted that veteran Abou Khan (father of Ladoum sheep breeding) has been very instrumental developing the unique breed among the small ruminants in the Senegambia region,” the Minister of Trade .
Bakary Badjie, Minister for Youth and Sports said there are too many people in the urban Gambia – sheep breeding is a traditional hobby, which serves as a savings account to many thus contributing to the local economy.
He said the most popular sheep breed in The Gambia is known to be the local dwarf-sheep, which grows slower compared to taller breed of sheep from northern Senegal, Mali and Mauritania.
According to the Sports Minister, the agriculture minister, the country’s local breeds do have their own advantage such as their adoptability in harsh environmental conditions, this he promised that the minister of agriculture will facilitate putting in place the right policy framework for the appropriate exploitation of other forms of sheep breeds.
Abou Khan, a Senegalese official and the founder of Ladoum Sheep (perfected the Ladoum sheep breeding in Senegal) gave 5 big Ladoum Sheep to the farmers and encouraged Gambians to venture into these sheep breeding.
“I am pleased and this shows that Gambia and Senegal are one people. If we produce stock by ourselves, we will not rely on importation for consumption. Let’s venture into farms and produce in our own land,” he urged.
The event was supported by UniGlobal and other local business partners. It was attended by ministers, agriculture directors and senior officers, Breeders both Senegal and Gambia, youths, among others.
