Health, welfare of animals top priority throughout importation process – GLDA as pregnant heifers arrive from Brazil

See full statement from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA):

The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) rejects the false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims circulating on social media regarding the welfare, transportation, and management of recently imported cattle currently en route to the GLDA’s Ebini Livestock Facility.

The Authority assures the public that the health, welfare, and humane treatment of the animals have remained the highest priority throughout the importation process. At no stage have the animals been neglected, abandoned, or transported without continuous veterinary supervision.

Contrary to claims circulated online, the cattle underwent a mandatory seven-day pre-export quarantine in Brazil, during which they were inspected, monitored, tested, and officially certified by the competent veterinary authorities as healthy and free from transboundary animal diseases. Upon arrival in Lethem, the animals were subjected to further veterinary inspection by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority before being cleared to continue their journey to the Authority’s Ebini Livestock Facility.

Throughout the journey from Lethem to Ebini, the cattle have been transported in accordance with strict animal welfare protocols. Mandatory rest stops were conducted every four hours, during which the animals were provided with feed and clean drinking water supplemented with electrolytes. During each stop, GLDA veterinarians and animal health personnel carried out routine welfare assessments to monitor the animals for any signs of stress, illness, injury, or fatigue. Veterinary supervision and technical support have remained continuous throughout the operation.

The Authority therefore refutes assertions that the animals have remained continuously confined for six days. These claims are entirely false and disregard the established animal welfare procedures that have been implemented throughout the journey.

The temporary delay at the river crossing was not the result of poor planning or inadequate animal care. Rather, it resulted from prevailing tidal conditions and precautionary operational measures implemented to ensure the safe transfer of livestock transport vehicles across the river. These operational decisions were taken on the advice of GLDA veterinary and technical personnel in the interest of safeguarding animal welfare. Throughout this period, the animals continued to receive adequate feed, clean drinking water, veterinary care, and continuous monitoring.

During the course of the operation, animal mortalities were recorded. While any livestock mortality during transport is regrettable, these isolated losses were promptly documented and managed in accordance with established veterinary protocols. Importantly, under the terms and conditions of the procurement contract, the supplier is contractually obligated to deliver all animals alive to the GLDA’s Ebini Livestock Facility. Consequently, the supplier will be required to replace the three animals at no additional cost to the Government of Guyana or the Guyana Livestock Development Authority, in accordance with its contractual obligations.

The GLDA also wishes to make it unequivocally clear that these cattle are public assets, procured by the Government of Guyana as part of a national livestock development programme designed to strengthen the country’s genetic improvement initiatives, enhance national food security, and increase domestic livestock productivity. The animals are not associated with, nor intended for the benefit of, any privately owned or privately operated farm, as has been falsely suggested.

The Authority remains committed to transparency, scientific animal health management, and adherence to internationally accepted animal welfare standards. It urges members of the public to rely on verified information from official sources and to disregard misinformation that seeks to undermine a nationally important agricultural development initiative.