El Oro is a community located just three kilometers north of the San Antonio del Sur Municipality, on the road to the Caujerí Valley.
Its climate (typical of the Cuban semi-desert area), characterized by very little rainfall, stony soils and a hot sun almost all year round, is inappropriate for agricultural crops (with the exception of bananas when irrigation is assured), but it is very good for raising sheep.
For this reason, when a few years ago Dalkis Martínez Pelegrín received his land in usufruct, he did so, convinced that he would direct his efforts, mostly, to the development of this type of small livestock farming.
Thus, he focused on the promotion of breeding stock and stallions of the Pelibuey breed of African origin, with the purpose of genetic improvement of its animals, of the Armando Barrero Credit and Services Cooperative to which he belongs.
“I preferred to breed the Pelibuey breed over the wool ones, because it is the dominant one in Cuba, for its high fertility rate, its meat supply, adaptation to climatic conditions and food supply,” Dalkis says.
“Today I have about a hundred rams, among which 50 breeders, three stallions, along with 15 females and 20 developing males stand out. Until September I have delivered 20 females and 18 males for reproduction, cattle that I must increase before the end of the year. In addition, I have marketed another group of discarded animals for reproductive purposes.”
Martínez Pelegrín assures that despite the hostile climate, he guarantees good nutrition for his herd, based on the availability of natural grass in the pastures and the planting of guinea grass, king grass and cane. “Thanks to this,” he says, “my sheep have food all year round.
“I have a stable of land, with three large pastures and six paddocks that allow me to rotate the dough through them and make better use of the feed,” this Computer Science graduate explains, who has become one of the most prominent sheep producers in San Antonio del Sur.
Another contribution to the food sovereignty and nutritional education plan in the municipality of Dalkis is achieved with the production of banana, of which, he says, he has delivered three tons to the State so far this year.
