Keri-Rose Savannahs Land on Cayman Brac

The first time that I heard this quotation was during the formation of the Canadian Boer Goat Association in the mid-nineties. Doc Throlson (Dr.Kenneth Throlson), a visionary pioneer of the North American bison industry, was exhorting new entrants to embrace an alternative agricultural enterprise with the evangelical enthusiasm of Christopher Columbus. The metaphorical “shore” that he was referencing was the existing livestock industry where producers had given up control of the processing, distribution and marketing of their product. Doc Throlson’s “new ocean” was a “New Generation Co-operative” whereby producer ownership shares would be determined by the scale of their supply contracts. The co-operative ideal of “one member, one vote” would still apply so smaller producers would still have a voice and hopefully some democratic “control”. Large and small producers working together could create enough scale to justify ownership of their own food processing plant and sail into greater profitability as a result. During these pioneering times, meat goat promoters like myself extolled the impressive reproductive efficiency, ease of handling and globally deficient markets as primary reasons why the caprine species should succeed in North America. Investors looking for alternative agricultural enterprises would surely be attracted to meat goats over the slow growing and cantankerous bison. How could agricultural entrepreneurs and new investment capital ignore the global opportunities for goat meat when compared to the small niche market that bison represented? As Kate and I were loading our herd of 216 Savannahs onto the chartered Boeing 767 CargoJet aircraft, I was torn between excitement and trepidation at the challenges that were ahead of us. I thought about the resurgence of buffalo and the National Buffalo Association’s ability to take advantage of consumer interest in diet and health. The “driving force” behind their industry growth has been described as “a lean, low-cholesterol red meat” and recent producer profits and confidence has been propelled by many years of “double digit growth in consumer demand”. Why were meat goat numbers in decline across North America after many years of growth? Why was the meat goat industry not commercializing the way the bison industry had? Why had meat goat producers not focused on their commodity and created a strong national association to advance their interests in the face of increasing ethnic

markets and new ethically driven consumers seeking fresh, local and ecologically sensitive production? I stared out into the frosty darkness of the Calgary airport terminal and couldn’t help thinking about Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump and the beautiful location I was leaving behind. I knew we would miss Fort Macleod and the inspiration that comes from native history and the pioneers that settled the western prairies. The resurgence of the buffalo from the brink of extinction through persistent and intuitive marketing was as inspiring to me as the endurance of my First Nations neighbors. Perhaps this is why, Doc Throlson’s words came to me and confidence started to replace the trepidation I had been feeling.

My rebounding optimism was quickly shattered when CargoJet loadmaster, Chike Hickson informed us that we would be delayed because the shipping crates were built too high by 5-6 inches so they would not fit the contour on the inside of the aircraft. 15 custom built crates were filled to capacity so more goats in fewer crates was not a solution. A larger aircraft was not available on short notice. The only

option was to cut the crates to fit and hope they would still contain the goats! $850 per crate under destruction was of no concern to the goats!

Cut the Crates!

“The plan” was to arrive in Grand Cayman (photo above), have the goats inspected on the tarmac and immediately transport them to an awaiting barge for the 14-16 hour barge crossing to Cayman Brac. The Cayman Brac airport runway was not quite long enough to handle the chartered jet and it was not equipped to handle the size of the “custom” crates. As we sat on the airport tarmac waiting for the health inspection to be completed by the Cayman Islands veterinarian, we slowly watched our precious goats start to pant and mouth breathe. Leaving Calgary on October 31 meant freezing temperatures and the Savannahs prepared for a cold Canadian prairie winter with long fuzzy coats. The heat that day was oppressive and humid. Well above 30 degrees Celsius or 90 degrees Fahrenheit. We scurried to get them all watered; somewhat comforted thinking about a cool shower, an air conditioned hotel room and some restful sleep after nearly 40 hours of non-stop high stress

travel. The goats would be enjoying the cool breeze at sea while we would sleep blissfully dreaming about our new Caribbean adventure. Like many plans we have had in life, this was not to be. Unusually high seas and windy conditions meant that the barge could not sail and we would have to find temporary quarters for all of the goats on Grand Cayman. Offloading all of the goats, putting them into strange surroundings with no handling facilities; with darkness looming and exhaustion setting in, we watched our next challenge unfold.

The emergency crate design modification in Calgary had come back to haunt us. Instead of a giant fork lift handling our cargo; we now had a picker truck. Straps with no spreader bar. Structurally compromised crates falling apart. Goats escaping in the darkness after falling through the bottom; while panicked helpers scrambled to keep other goats from being crushed as the crate descended. With no comforting “shore” yet in sight we relied on Cayman Department of Agriculture employee Allon Powery to help us through this ordeal. Allon stayed overtime quietly fixing water pipes and cutting toxic plants in the overgrown corrals so our hungry goats would not poison themselves on their first night in the Cayman Islands. Somewhat miraculously the herd had followed my call through the noise, confusion and darkness and we corralled them without any injuries or losses. The Caymanian reputation for hospitality and kindness to strangers was given new meaning with Allon Powery’s actions that night.

The next morning; Allon’s local knowledge of the toxic plant dangers that our Savannahs would face, was shared with a smile, as he handed me a pick and showed me the Lantana (next photo) that still needed

clearing. Lantanas or shrub verbenas as they are sometimes called are poisonous to herbivores so they often spread as an invasive noxious pasture weed by birds who enjoy their delicious fruit seeds.

Our emergency landing spot was the Department of Agriculture grounds in Lower Valley and it wasn’t until November 9 that a short break in the unusually rough weather allowed the barge to travel to Cayman Brac. This 9 days of waiting was a blessing for the goats as they acclimatized to the Caribbean with relatively cooler weather and refreshing breezes. We didn’t know it at the time, but it would be another 16 days before another barge could make the trip. Unless you have lived on an island you won’t understand the implications of what I just said. We got the goats safely to Cayman Brac but in less than 10 days they had gobbled up all of the available hay! Now we had pens of hungry goats that needed an emergency airlift! 30 individually wrapped 50 lb bales arrived by Cayman Air on November 20 followed by a chartered cargo plane with 200 more bales on shrink wrapped pallets 4 days later.

The dedication of the Cayman Brac Goat Farm (Bluff Farms) investment group to the welfare of their new Savannah herd has been uplifting and heart warming. Kate and I are confident that the Keri-Rose genetic legacy will continue for many years to come. It was an unbelievable site to see our life’s work tarped for protection from the sea and sun and being towed across the Caribbean waves.

The Brac at last! Weary and cautious but ready to work!

That “safe Alberta shore” that we left behind will never be forgotten even as we are overwhelmed by all of the challenges that our “new ocean” entails. Doc Throlson and others in the commercial bison industry started in the late 1960’s. This was 25 years ahead of the introduction of Boer goats to North America! Perhaps the best is yet to come in the meat goat business! I am as positive about the future of our industry as I have ever been. However; my 66 year old pragmatism suggests that establishing a new red meat industry is about “we” rather than “me”. It takes time and significant capital. It also takes more than just a pioneering spirit; it takes institutional awareness, operational scale and widespread producer involvement. Perhaps, like Kate and I, you too will become impatient with the crowd that surrounds you and begin your search for new oceans. I can only hope that you find some sunny place where your vision for the future is also embraced by the new friends that welcome you.

Never under-estimate the difficulty of the course you chart. Invest in the right equipment for the job. Be prepared for stormy weather.