Some silage is fed. Small producers will cut forages by hand, whereas bigger operations will mechanically harvest the tall-growing grasses. While tropical forages grow very rapidly, they are generally not as high in energy and protein as temperate species. Protein sources are not readily available. Of course, the same can be said about forages in the U.S. where continuous grazing causes pastures to be grazed when the grass is too mature and hays are often cut when plants have already gone to seed.
Corn is very expensive to import.
Pregnancy toxemia is a re-occurring problem, caused by inadequate intake of energy and undoubtably exacerbated by lack of exercise in confinement housing. Reproduction in the ewe is affected by photo period the length of day and night. However, in Trinidad and Tobago, day length does not vary significantly, thus ewes will express estrus throughout the year. Breeding can be continuous. The better sheep farms will remove the rams and breed for three lamp crops in two years.