On March 11, 2026, Burkina Faso received 710 high-yield pregnant Girolando cows from Brazil at the Loumbila station. This initiative, led by President Captain Ibrahim Traoré’s administration, aims to boost local milk production, reduce over 22 billion CFA francs in annual dairy imports, and strengthen food security and sovereignty.

These cows, primarily of the Girolando breed, arrived on March 11, 2026, at the Loumbila station as part of an initiative led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré to strengthen the national livestock sector and ensure food sovereignty.

Key Details of the Initiative:

• Goal: To increase local milk production, reduce imports (which currently cost over 20 billion FCFA annually), and strengthen food security.
• Production Targets: The herd is expected to produce 1.2 million liters of milk in the first year, with plans to triple production by the third year.
• Breed: Girolando cows were selected for their high yield (14-35 liters/day) and resilience to tropical climates.
• Infrastructure: The cows will support the Burkina Faso’s state-owned dairy company Faso Kosam.

Burkina Faso is taking major steps to boost its dairy and meat industries. The government has imported 710 high-performance cattle from Brazil, launched the state-owned Faso Kosam dairy company, and built the Banfora Slaughterhouse. These moves aim to reduce dairy imports, increase local milk production, modernize livestock farming, create jobs, and position the country as a processed meat exporter by 2030, part of Burkina Faso’s government 5-year National Development Plan initiative.
Burkina Faso is setting up more factories to produce milk and meat processing at home at a cheaper rate for its population. President Ibrahim Traoré and the government of Burkina Faso believe so much in home-made products that they are building their economy in a way that will reduce imports into Burkina Faso.


“He who feeds you, Controls you.”
-The Great Nana Thomas Sankara


🗣️ President Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the government of Burkina Faso has imported 710 pregnant cattle of specialize breeds from Brazil in an initiative to reduce milk importation, currently estimated at 22 billion CFA francs (about $22.8 million).
🗣️ The cattle were officially received on Marched 11, 2026, and handed over to farmers at the Loumbila Livestock Station in Ouagadougou in the presence of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Water, Animal and Fisheries Resources, Commandant Ismaël Sombié, and representatives of the Brazilian embassy in Burkina Faso.
🗣️ The shipment includes cattle breeds of Girolando, Guzera, Nelore, and Holstein. While Nelore cattle can weigh up to 1,100kg at age 5, Girolando and Holstein cows can produce between 15 and 40 liters of milk per day on average, compared to 0.5 to 1 liter of milk per day from local Burkina Faso dairy breeds.
🗣️ Ardiouma Sirima, Director General of the Center for the Promotion of Poultry Farming and the Multiplication of High Performance Animals, explained that these breeds will improve the genetic potential of local cattle and increase milk production for the domestic dairy processing industry in Burkina Faso.
🗣️ Commandant Ismaël Sombié further highlighted that two-state owned dairy processing companies are expected to benefit from the acquisition are Faso Kosam and Slaughterhouse.
🗣️ Burkina Faso imports an average of 25,000 tonnes of dairy products, costing around $25 million between 2020 and 2024, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Burkina Faso officials say that once fully operational, Faso Kosam could meet at least half of the country’s dairy demand by 2030.
🗣️ President Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Burkina Faso government also aim to position Burkina Faso as a processed meat exporter with the $5 million company, Banfora Slaughterhouse, capable of processing 100 small ruminants, 50 cattle, and 25 pigs.
🗣️ These strategic cattle imports are part of President Captain Ibrahim Traoré and the Burkina Faso government’s broader efforts to modernize livestock farming, create jobs, improve food security and sovereignty, and increase revenue for the nation of Burkina Faso and the Burkinabe people.
https://www.mexc.com/news/944030