Sheep farming sectors in Paraguay and Brazil seek growth and sanitary certification

In Paraguay, the Paraguayan Association of Sheep Breeders (Apco) reports growing domestic interest in lamb consumption. Luis Salinas, president of the association, noted that while lamb is currently consumed primarily during weekends or special events, efforts are underway to integrate it into daily diets. The sector is also facing the challenge of increasing production to meet an export demand of approximately 20,000 kilograms of lamb meat per month.

In Brazil, the sheep and goat production chain is calling on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa) to establish a national control plan for scrapie. The Brazilian Association of Sheep Breeders (Arco) emphasized that scrapie, a fatal neurodegenerative disease, remains a significant barrier to accessing international markets. Industry representatives are advocating for the certification of disease-free properties to facilitate the export of animals, genetic material, and sheep-derived products.