The Samoan government plans to bring in a trial shipment of sheep to see if a mutton industry can be developed
The Minister of Finance, Misa Telefoni, announced approval for the shipment of Tropical Sheep in his budget statement.
He said if the first animals proved viable it would prove a valuable substitute to imported meat and would also hopefully raise the quality of meat consumed.
There has been concern in Samoa over the consumption of mutton flaps imported from New Zealand.
The cuts are popular because of their low cost, but they have a high fat content and health officials believe they have contributed to the sharp rise in the rate of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
