Senegal to import 1000 heads of cattle from Brazil for meat production

SENEGAL – The Senegalese government has announced plans to import 1,000 Guzera cattle from Brazil to enhance its red meat production. 

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock disclosed that the initiative, established through a partnership with the Group for the Genetic Improvement of Pastoral and Extensive Livestock Farming in Senegal (GEPES), aims to support cattle breeders in increasing herd productivity.

The new import deal, outlined in a press release from the ministry on November 5, involves bringing in 700 Guzera bulls and 300 heifers, a breed known for its resilience and suitability for extensive farming conditions. 

By introducing these genetically robust animals, the ministry aims to improve the productivity of local cattle farms, meeting growing demand for red meat in Senegal.

The project is backed by a government budget of over 4.1 billion CFA francs (approximately US$6.7 million), with subsidies covering up to half the cost of acquiring the cattle. 

According to Agriculture Minister Mabouba Diagne, the funding is part of broader efforts to make high-yield breeding stock accessible to local cattle farmers and help modernize the meat sector.

In recent years, Senegal’s focus on genetic improvement in livestock has shown positive outcomes, particularly in dairy production. 

A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on Senegal’s dairy sector, released in July, noted a 15.2% increase in milk production from 243.5 million liters in 2017 to nearly 280.6 million litres in 2021, largely due to selective breeding and the gradual shift of farms from traditional methods to semi-intensive systems.

Meat consumption in Senegal reached 18.5 kilograms per capita in 2021, with beef comprising 5.3 kilograms, according to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD).

In 2019, the country’s cattle population was recorded at over 3.6 million, making cattle breeding the fourth largest livestock activity in Senegal after poultry, sheep, and goats.

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