The Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) has pushed back against social media claims that cattle recently imported from Brazil were neglected and left confined for six days without care, insisting the animals received continuous veterinary supervision throughout their journey to the Ebini Livestock Facility.
Contrary to claims on social media, the Authority maintained that the health and humane treatment of the animals remained the highest priority throughout the importation process, adding that the cattle had not been neglected, abandoned or transported without continuous veterinary supervision.
The GLDA said the cattle underwent a mandatory seven-day pre-export quarantine in Brazil, during which they were inspected, tested and certified healthy by competent veterinary authorities. On arrival in Lethem, the animals underwent further inspection by the GLDA before being cleared to continue to Ebini.
Throughout the journey, mandatory rest stops were conducted every four hours, during which the animals were provided with feed and water supplemented with electrolytes, the Authority said. GLDA veterinarians carried out welfare assessments at each stop to monitor for stress, illness, injury or fatigue.
The Authority said a delay at a river crossing resulted from tidal conditions and precautionary measures taken on veterinary advice, not from poor planning or inadequate care.
Animal mortalities (three died) were recorded during the operation. The GLDA said the losses were documented and managed under established veterinary protocols, and that the supplier is contractually obligated to deliver all animals alive to Ebini. The supplier will be required to replace the three animals at no additional cost to the government or the GLDA.
The Authority said the cattle are public assets procured by the Government of Guyana as part of a national livestock development programme aimed at strengthening genetic improvement, enhancing food security and increasing domestic livestock productivity. It rejected suggestions the animals were linked to any privately owned farm.
The GLDA said it remains committed to transparency and adherence to animal welfare standards, and urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources.
