Memorial Orton Library and INDER provide a workshop on livestock for the Turrialba and Jiménez cantons

• Workshop addressed topics related to nutrition, pasture management, reproduction, and animal health

October 31. The Memorial Orton Library and the INDER (Institute of Rural Development) organized a workshop in October for individuals engaged in livestock farming in the Turrialba and Jiménez cantons.

This event had the support of researchers from CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), specialists from the Commercial Farm, staff from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), and the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).

The training provided an opportunity for 29 people (20 men and 9 women) to learn, share experiences, and promote innovation in the field of livestock farming.

The workshop took place one day a week for four sessions, from October 3 to October 24, and was held at the Orton Library facilities. It included a visit to CATIE's Commercial Farm.

The Memorial Orton Library, located within the CATIE campus, is a specialized library in agriculture, forestry, livestock, and related subjects. It was founded in 1943 and is managed by IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture) and CATIE.

Community Outreach

Jeffry Jiménez Pérez, the library's coordinator, stated that for the IICA/CATIE library system, the realization of these workshops is of utmost importance because it is a way to bring the scientific knowledge generated by CATIE and IICA to the communities of Turrialba and Jiménez.

Gerardo Molina Romero is one of the workshop participants and expressed that the knowledge acquired was very interesting, especially because he knows he can share it with other farmer friends who couldn't attend.

"One didn't know about part of the facilities or the handling of livestock at CATIE. It was very important to be with the specialists. The experience was lovely because we could present our situation and ask them our concerns," Molina commented.

Some of the key aspects covered during the workshop included cattle nutrition, pasture management, reproduction, and animal health.  

Last June, the Library and INDER conducted another workshop focused on guava for producer families in the Turrialba and Jiménez cantons.