SENEGAL – In an ambitious move to enhance its meat production capabilities, Senegal has announced plans to import 1,000 Guzera cattle from Brazil. 

This government-backed initiative aims to strengthen the country’s red meat sector by introducing resilient, high-yield livestock into local herds, marking a significant investment in Senegal’s agricultural and livestock development.

The plan, detailed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock on November 5, includes importing 700 Guzera bulls and 300 heifers, prized for their genetic robustness and adaptability to extensive farming environments. 

This initiative led in collaboration with the Group for the Genetic Improvement of Pastoral and Extensive Livestock Farming in Senegal (GEPES), represents a substantial commitment to supporting cattle breeders as they work to boost productivity and meet the rising domestic demand for red meat.

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

Agriculture Minister Mabouba Diagne emphasised that this funding is part of a larger government effort to provide high-quality breeding stock to local cattle farmers, modernise the country’s meat production sector, and foster food sovereignty.

Senegal’s focus on genetic improvement in livestock is not new. Recent successes in the dairy sector underscore the potential impact of selective breeding and improved farming practices on productivity. 

A July report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) highlighted that selective breeding and a shift towards semi-intensive farming systems helped increase Senegal’s milk production by 15.2% from 243.5 million litres in 2017 to nearly 280.6 million litres in 2021. 

Now extending to the red meat sector, this same approach is expected to bring comparable gains in beef production.

Meat consumption in Senegal has steadily grown, reaching 18.5 kilograms per capita in 2021, with beef alone accounting for 5.3 kilograms per person. 

As demand continues to rise, the average meat consumption per capita is projected to reach 12.6 kilograms by 2024, according to market insights from Statista. 

Additionally, revenue in Senegal’s meat market has reached nearly US$1.99 billion in 2024, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 8.07% through 2029.

Senegal’s livestock sector is central to its economy, contributing roughly 17% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and providing employment for approximately 70% of the population. 

Cattle farming, which is the fourth largest livestock activity after poultry, sheep, and goats, involves around 350,000 families nationwide and represents nearly 30% of all Senegalese farmers, according to research from the Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA).

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