Barbados has announced a temporary suspension of all exports of its indigenous Blackbelly sheep due to a severe decline in the population, as reported by Barbados TODAY. The Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS) is spearheading efforts to revive a national registration scheme to address the crisis, with industry leaders emphasizing that no sheep can be spared for export until local numbers recover. Rommel Parris, President of Barbados Sheep Farmers Inc., confirmed the halt, citing critically low herd levels despite increasing regional demand. Parris revealed that he has repeatedly declined export requests from neighboring islands, including Antigua, Dominica, and Grenada, due to the dire state of Barbados’ sheep population. He expressed concern over the lack of quality breeding animals from Greenland Livestock Station, which has exacerbated the problem. The situation has been further complicated by dwindling interest among young people in sheep farming. Parris highlighted the urgent need to reintroduce a structured registration system to track and rebuild the national flock. The registration process, launched earlier this month, is being led by an internationally trained officer equipped with the necessary tools to assess sheep characteristics and growth. Parris emphasized that revitalizing the industry requires increased participation in sheep breeding, with a goal of encouraging five to six individuals annually to raise 20 sheep each. He expressed optimism that Barbados could eventually resume exports comfortably, drawing parallels to past successful export programs. The Barbados Blackbelly sheep remains globally respected for its resilience, adaptability, and high reproductive rates. The Ministry of Agriculture has also implemented training programs to educate farmers on best practices, further supporting recovery efforts.