Competing Footage of Brazil Cattle Import Spark Political Warfare Over National Herd Expansion Program
By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News|
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — A bitter public dispute has erupted over the government’s high-profile livestock program, with competing video releases fueling a war of words over the treatment of pregnant heifers imported from Brazil.
The controversy centers on the first consignment of 300 pregnant heifers—part of a larger 1,000-head national herd-expansion initiative—which arrived in the country to boost local beef and dairy production. Tensions flared after Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed published distressing footage showing thin, weak, and motionless heifers confined inside transport trucks. In stark contrast, the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has fired back with its own footage showing healthy cattle grazing peacefully on green pasture at the Ebini Livestock Facility in the Berbice River.
The rival videos have triggered a fierce debate across social media. While some citizens accuse the government of gaslighting the public by highlighting the recovered cattle while ignoring the dead and distressed animals, state officials maintain that the journey’s logistical challenges were handled with the utmost veterinary care.
The Imported Cattle Dispute: Fact Sheet
| Feature / Metric | Government / GLDA Position | Opposition / WIN Position |
| Total Program Size | 1,000 pregnant heifers (first batch of 300 delivered) | Focus on the delayed batch of 300 heifers |
| Asset Valuation | G$245,000 per heifer (G$245M total for program) | Est. G$100 million for the affected batch |
| Documented Deaths | 3 mortalities (within the standard 5% transport threshold) | 14 to 15 mortalities alleged |
| Primary Destination | Ebini Breeding and Research Centre, Berbice River | Delayed transit at the Berbice River waterfront |
| Contractor / Origin | Coopera of Brazil (via national tender) | Raised concerns over transport conditions & preparedness |
“These animals are already running around in the pastures, feeding, and resting,” stated GLDA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Dwight Walrond, who defended the transit process. “The three regrettably recorded mortalities are well below the acceptable international limit of five percent for transporting pregnant livestock over a grueling 1,000-kilometer journey from Roraima State to Ebini.”
Accusations of Cruelty vs. Unforeseen Tidal Delays
The opposition’s inspection team, which included We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) Executive Member Mark Goring and APNU parliamentarians, painted a far grimmer picture. Goring claimed that up to 15 animals had perished due to cruel transport conditions, describing how heavily pregnant heifers spent days confined inside hot, metal-plated trucks. Mohamed further claimed that two calves were born while their mothers remained trapped in transit and that one heifer died during a live broadcast of his visit.
Dr. Walrond conceded that the GLDA ran into temporary, unforeseen delays at the Berbice River crossing due to unfavorable tidal flows, forcing a cautious decision to delay the barge crossing until daylight to protect both the staff and the animals. The GLDA strongly rejected any claims of systemic negligence, clarifying that the heifers underwent a mandatory seven-day pre-export quarantine in Brazil, were certified disease-free, and received water, electrolytes, and food at designated rest stops throughout the journey.
The authority also noted that the contract with the Brazilian supplier, Coopera, contains clear replacement clauses: any animals that do not survive the transition period will be fully replaced by the exporter at no extra cost to the taxpayer. As a resident veterinarian is deployed to Ebini to monitor the herd’s adaptation, the public continues to scrutinize whether the historic import program will deliver on its food security promises or remain bogged down in political controversy.
