Senegal moves forward with livestock genetic improvement to boost meat, livestock industries
SENEGAL – The Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock is entering new partnerships aimed at improving the genetics of local livestock breeds.
The ministry recently signed agreements with the Group for the Genetic Improvement of Pastoral and Extensive Livestock Farming in Senegal (GEPES) and the company Oumou For Land.
According to an official statement shared on the ministry’s Facebook page, the agreements focus on increasing the productivity of livestock farming in Keur Momar Sarr.
While specific details on the implementation strategies remain undisclosed, Oumou For Land has committed to investing over US$4.8 million in the initiative.
Ongoing Efforts Since 2017
Senegalese authorities have been working to enhance local livestock breeds for several years.
Since 2017, the government has partnered with the National Association for the Intensification of Dairy Production (ANIPL) to subsidize the importation of high-yield cattle breeds.
As part of these efforts, the ministry has covered half the cost of acquiring and importing 2,500 heifers of the Normande, Montbéliarde, Brune des Alpes, Holstein, and Jersey breeds to support milk production in 2024.
In November 2024, another agreement was signed with GEPES to import 1,000 Guzerá cattle from Brazil to strengthen meat production.
Beyond financial support, the launch of the National Integrated Livestock Development Program (PNDIES) in May 2024 has placed genetic improvement at the center of the country’s livestock strategies.
The program, which has a budget of US$82.2 million, is funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).
Push for Self-Sufficiency in Livestock Products
Beef remains the second most consumed source of animal protein in Senegal after chicken.
In 2022, national meat production stood at 320,619 tonnes, with 29.5% coming from cattle farms, according to data from the Directorate of Analysis, Forecasting, and Agricultural Statistics (DAPSA).
Senegal has also made some progress in increasing local milk production, but demand continues to outpace supply.
A report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published in July 2024 shows that milk production grew by 15.2% between 2017 and 2021, reaching 280.6 million liters.
The USDA attributes this growth to ongoing genetic improvement efforts and the shift from extensive livestock farming to more industrialized production methods.
However, despite these advances, domestic production still falls short of national consumption, forcing the country to rely on imports.
According to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), Senegal imported 33,745 tonnes of dairy products in 2024, an 8% increase from the previous year.
The cost of these imports rose by 20%, reaching US$106 million.
Powdered milk accounts for a significant portion of these imports, as it is widely consumed and used in various dairy products.
Rising consumer demand is another factor driving imports.
The USDA report indicates that per capita dairy consumption in Senegal increased by 47% between 2017 and 2021, reaching 42.1 liters annually.
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