Barbados Blackbelly

UNIVERSITI MALAYA BARBADOS BLACK BELLY SHEEP PROJECT

Barbados Black Belly Sheep project is one of the pioneer projects in PPBGL and it was led by our first Centre Coordinator, Dr. Noraida Ismail from Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. The objective of the project is to make the University of Malaya as one of the best breeders of Barbados Black Belly in Malaysia. There are two (2) initiatives being undertaken in this project, namely Barbados Black Belly's breeding and trait improvement. In general, the breeding initiative is to increase the existing Barbados Black Belly population in the Center, while for trait improvement is the best breed selection initiative for breeding by measuring traits such as weight, mating ability, gestation rate, twin abilities and disease resistance. 

The use of modern technologies in this project greatly helps to achieve the objective of this program. Among the technologies used are sperm collection (artificial vagina), artificial insemination, ultrasound scanning, and sperm cryopreservation. In addition to the ongoing research program, the Center also conducts workshop and breeding exercises by using Barbados Black Belly as a model with the participation from the public, staff of the University of Malaya and surrounding communities. The objective of the workshop and exercise is to increase awareness and knowledge about the field. Every year, this project has been visited by many parties including Vice Chancellor University of Malaya, Datuk Ir. (Dr.) Abdul Rahim Hj. Hashim, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Development, Professor Dr. Faisal Rafiq, University of Malaya Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee members, private agencies, students, public and many more.

The program also provides university students with opportunities to gain experience in animal husbandry and animal biotechnology field. This program indirectly accepts students to conduct research for final year project, master, doctorate as well as industrial training. Collaboration between researcher, research center and industry is one of the vision for this program to exchange opinions, expertise, experience and technology in the area of study.