Kinshasa, DR Congo - A head of 1,562 domestic animals from the Brazilian firm, Endereco do Exportador, have arrived at the port of Boma, in the south-west of DR Congo as part of the re-launch of the activities of the Grands Elevages (GEL) company, based in the Bas-Congo. Transported aboard the Karim Allah ship, under the Lebanese flag, the livestock is composed of 880 bovines of the Nellore race, five young bulls of the Red Sindi race, 535 Santa Iness sheep, 12 horses and 130 buffalos. The Governor of Bas-Congo, Simon Floribert Mbatshi Batshia, who took delivery of the cattle, expressed hope that the livestock would contribute to the repopulation of the pastoral company and for the resumption of its activities, to the advantage of the province.

The cattle were immediately quarantined and will receive for 30 days, the required treatment, to avoid contagious diseases.

A subsidiary of the Elwyn Blattner Group, the Grands Elevages company of Boma suffered serious difficulties due to the reduction of the number of its cattle, which declined from 2,000 bovines in 2008 to 1,300 because of diseases and poaching.

Pana 23/04/2011