If you have a few acres, you're considered prime for the livestock business. The moisture situation is even worse this year due to drought. Pastures are short, brown and overgrazed. Goats do better than sheep and cows during drought, since they consume a wider variety of plant life and have a higher browse line. Most of the livestock are supplemented with grain, hay or liquid molasses.
Nutrition is the limiting factor in livestock production.
In fact, there seems little point in exporting superior genetics unless nutrition can be improved. Supplemental feeds are very expensive due to exorbitant transportation costs from the States or other islands. Shelled corn costs about 15 to 20 cents a pound compared to less than 5 cents a pound here. Hay sells for about 10 cents a pound. High feed costs are offset somewhat by higher prices for livestock.