More pregnant heifers expected in one week’s time to strengthen livestock programme – News Room Guyana

Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha on Wednesday said Guyana expects about 1,000 pregnant heifers, as part of its ongoing livestock development programme.

The announcement was made on the sidelines of the launch of Agriculture Month activities on Wednesday. This year’s activities will be held under the theme “Innovate, Nourish, Grow: Building a Strong and Sustainable Guyana.”

Mustapha said the initial shipment from Brazil was smaller than the eventual target, with around 300 animals already in Guyana.

“They have to bring 1,000 pregnant heifers. I think they have all the mechanisms in place that different [shipments] will be coming because you have to have a period of quarantine before the animals can come,” Mustpaha said at the National Exhibition Complex, Sophia.

The programme is continuing and additional shipments are expected with the next  arrival slated for one week’s time and will continue throughout the coming weeks. He said the regular arrival of the heifers is expected because the quarantine period has commenced for those remaining in Brazil.

According to Mustapha the logistical considerations affecting the timing of the shipments, including quarantine requirements for the animals before they can be brought into the country needed to be worked out, causing a smaller shipment in the first arrival of the animals.

The 1,000 pregnant heifers are expected to strengthen the national breeding herd and improve livestock genetics.

The ministry previously said the cattle successfully completed all veterinary health inspections, testing and quarantine requirements before export and meet Guyana’s animal health import standards.

Source: NEW ROOMS SITE