Venezuelan livestock sector development

The Venezuelan livestock sector has seen recent developments regarding tax relief and national inventory management. The Federación Nacional de Ganaderos de Venezuela (Fedenaga) has sought to meet with the national tax authority (SENIAT) to request the reinstatement of an income tax (ISLR) exemption originally granted in 2001. Fedenaga president Edgar Medina noted that current tax burdens and a lack of agricultural credit hinder the ability of producers to increase meat and milk inventories.

Following these industry requests, the Venezuelan government launched the National Plan for the Characterization of the Bovine and Buffalo Herd 2026. Announced by the Minister of Productive Agriculture and Lands, Vladimir Padrino López, this initiative aims to create a detailed registry of the nation’s livestock, including quantity, location, and specific characteristics.

A primary objective of the census is to secure international certification for the country as being free of foot-and-mouth disease, a critical step toward opening international markets for meat and dairy exports. The deployment is currently underway across several states, including Apure, Portuguesa, Zulia, Bolívar, and Falcón. In Zulia, officials reported a herd of over 2.5 million cattle, while the plan in Falcón targets more than 7,500 production units. The process utilizes hundreds of enumerators and technical teams to ensure an accurate inventory for future sanitary controls and agricultural policies.