Bull rotation programme boosts growth in cattle industry

Guyana’s livestock sector is experiencing a significant revival as a key agricultural initiative championed by President Dr Irfaan Ali’s administration begins to show tangible results. Farmers in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice) are reporting marked improvements in cattle productivity and herd quality, signalling a new chapter for the country’s cattle industry. The Bull Rotation Programme, a flagship effort under the Agriculture Ministry, is credited with driving the transformation. By enhancing breeding practices and improving livestock genetics, the initiative is helping farmers increase yields and build more resilient herds—paving the way for greater food security and economic growth in the agriculture sector.
At the forefront of this revival is the Bull Rotation Programme, a flagship initiative led by the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) under the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Ministry, the programme is designed to improve the genetic makeup, resilience and productivity of cattle herds nationwide—critical components of Guyana’s contribution to CARICOM’s “25 by 2025 plus 5” food security agenda.
Originally launched in 2012, the Bull Rotation Programme reached a major milestone in October 2022 with the importation of 64 elite breeding bulls—a strategic intervention now widely seen as a game-changer for the local beef sector.
While benefits are being seen countrywide, Region Five—considered Guyana’s livestock heartland—stands out as a leading success story. Despite being the country’s second-smallest administrative region, Region Five has shown significant growth. The breeding strategy focuses on crossbreeding local cows with Brahman Zebu bulls, prized for their heat tolerance, tick resistance, and efficiency in tropical environments. In the next phase, GLDA is promoting composite breeds like Brangus and Beefmaster, which combine the strengths of multiple breeds to ensure consistency, manageability, and resilience.
According to the GLDA, the region’s cattle population rose by 4.3 per cent in 2024, reaching nearly 120,000 animals across 1,503 herds. Of the 376 calves recorded under the programme that year, over 250 were born in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice). According to GLDA officials, the programme’s impact has been substantial: farmers are now reporting higher carcass yields, better reproductive performance, and improved herd health—all of which enhance profitability and national food security. The programme aims to improve herd health, accelerate animal weight gain, reduce production costs and potentially increase milk yields (for dairy farmers) by introducing superior genetics.
“The Bull Rotation Programme is not just about better cattle,” said Dr Dwight Walrond, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GLDA. “It’s about empowering farmers, modernising agriculture and positioning Guyana as a leader in regional food production.”
Among the success stories is Dianne Cheefoon, Region Five’s leading female cattle rancher. She credits the GLDA’s programme with transforming her operations.
“Before receiving the Brahman bull, I struggled to achieve profitable slaughter weights due to inbreeding and poor genetics,” Cheefoon explained.
Since joining the programme in 2022 and receiving continuous technical support and training from GLDA officers, she has seen marked improvements.
“With better genetics, the animals are gaining weight faster, and the entire operation is now more profitable,” she said, proudly noting the production of over 51 offspring from the imported bull. Similarly, Satesh Persaud, Manager of Inshanally Bacchus’s Ranch on the right bank of the Abary River, shared how the initiative revolutionised his business.
“When we started between 2008 and 2012, we had over 1,000 Creole cows, but growth was slow,” Persaud said. “Then in 2013, we were introduced to the Bull Rotation Programme and received a Brahman bull. That changed everything.”
Though the ranch has since reduced its herd size for sustainability, the improved animal quality has dramatically boosted profitability.
“We used to sell ten animals to earn what we now make from one improved calf,” he added.
Persaud credits the ranch’s success to both traditional knowledge and the consistent guidance of GLDA staff, especially CEO Dr Dwight Walrond, Extension Officer Mr Dilchand and the Region Five field team.
This initiative supports President Ali’s vision of transforming Guyana into a self-sufficient, export-ready agricultural powerhouse. It also aligns seamlessly with CARICOM’s “25 by 2025 plus 5” target—to reduce regional food imports by 25 per cent by 2025 and expand productivity over the next five years.