The government will invest, this year, in the genetic improvement of cattle, in supplementation and slaughter technology that is expected to have an impact on meat quality and increase the income of producers in the family sub-sector.

In fact, one thousand genetically improved bulls will be purchased and delivered to producers all over the country, as part of the Agriculture and Rural Development sector's efforts to increase livestock production and productivity.

The national director for Livestock Development, Américo da Conceição, told Noticias that the investments in improving the cattle, goat and pig herds, will allow for greater weight per carcass and precocity when slaughtering the animals.

"Work is already being done in the area of genetic improvement. This year we will start with the acquisition of a thousand bulls. This measure also includes small ruminants, namely goats, pigs and sheep," explained Da Conceição.

Da Conceição added that the sector has the challenge of working in animal supplementation and in the production of equipment for this purpose, as well as in the construction of meat processing infrastructures, with emphasis on slaughterhouses.

"The Government has been supporting the private sector, having inaugurated a slaughterhouse in Pande, in Inhambane province, besides another one that will start operating in Tete province. These are places with technologies that allow us to have quality processed meat", he added.

It should be noted that the country has agro-ecological conditions, food and genetic resources that are favorable for the development of livestock farming, with satisfactory productivity.

There are still a large number of small and medium-sized livestock farms, with potential for improvement through cross-breeding the animals.

Livestock systems present low production and productivity rates. The intensification of livestock production is chosen as one of the models to be followed to increase the availability of meat and contribute to the objectives defined in the Five-Year Government Program (PQG 2020-2024).

The PQG bets on the intensification of cattle breeding, aiming to increase production, productivity, and meat quality for food security, family income generation, and foreign exchange attraction through exports.