Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) has expanded the herd earmarked for its US$30 million Moblissa dairy operation with the arrival of 473 pregnant heifers, bringing the company another step closer to commercial milk production.
The cattle arrived late Friday night aboard the Danish-flagged livestock carrier MV ALONDRA at Hakh Friendship Port on the East Bank of Demerara, according to DDL.
The shipment represents a significant expansion of the herd established in May, when 85 pregnant heifers were flown into Guyana aboard a specialised Amerijet charter and transported to Moblissa to begin preparations for the dairy operation.
The latest shipment brings the number of imported pregnant heifers to 558.
DDL said the maritime arrival also marked a first for Guyana, with the country receiving livestock through a dedicated livestock carrier at Port Georgetown.
The MV ALONDRA, a 97.54-metre-long and 15.9-metre-wide vessel, transported the animals from the United States following a journey that began at a farm in Seattle, Washington. The cattle were transported by road to Florida before undertaking a seven-day ocean voyage to Georgetown.
The vessel docked shortly before 11 p.m., after which the animals and shipment underwent health and regulatory inspections involving government agencies, including the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) and Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Following clearance, the cattle were moved by specialised livestock trucks to DDL’s Moblissa facility. Each truck carried approximately 23 animals, with three transport cycles planned. Units of the Guyana Police Force escorted the convoys.
DDL Executive Chairman Komal Samaroo described the shipment as a major development in the company’s plans to establish a large-scale dairy operation.
“The arrival of this specialised livestock carrier marks a monumental step forward not just for DDL, but for Guyana’s agricultural infrastructure.”
Samaroo said the company’s initial air shipment in May established the foundation of the herd, while the latest maritime operation demonstrates its commitment to expanding the project.
“With these additional high-grade animals safely on the ground at Moblissa alongside our initial stock, we are significantly accelerating our vision to establish a world-class, sustainable dairy operation that will enhance Guyana’s food security and transform our national livestock industry.”
The Moblissa project forms part of DDL’s diversification strategy as the company expands beyond its traditional business interests. The company has described the facility as a state-of-the-art dairy operation with a projected investment of US$30 million.
The project also comes against the backdrop of Guyana and the wider Caribbean’s efforts to increase domestic food production and reduce dependence on imported food. The initiative aligns with the objectives of the CARICOM food-security agenda, which seeks to strengthen regional agricultural production and reduce the region’s food import bill.
The arrival of the 473 pregnant heifers significantly increases the potential scale of the Moblissa operation, although commercial production will depend on the development of the herd, animal health, breeding and the completion and commissioning of the dairy infrastructure.
The project is being positioned as more than a private-sector investment. Its success could have implications for domestic milk production, livestock development and Guyana’s broader push to strengthen agricultural capacity as the economy undergoes rapid transformation.
With the latest animals now arriving at Moblissa, attention will increasingly turn to how quickly the expanded herd can translate into commercial milk production and whether the project can deliver on its promise of reducing Guyana’s dependence on imported dairy products while strengthening the domestic livestock industry.
