Iraq – Ministry of Agriculture Unveils Major Milk Production Projects and Ongoing Efforts to Improve Cattle Breeds

The Directorate of Animal Resources announced  the launch of major strategic projects aimed at boosting domestic milk production, alongside expanding cattle breeding stations and calf fattening facilities. The Directorate also confirmed ongoing efforts to improve local breeds and enhance their productivity.
The Director General of the Directorate, Walid Mohammed Rzouqi, stated in remarks to the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Iraq’s imports of live animals are currently concentrated in Brazil and Colombia, in addition to limited quantities of sheep imported from Georgia compared to beef livestock. He noted that large-scale projects for local milk production are underway, most notably the “Fayd Al-Qassim” project established at the Fadak Farm التابعة to the Holy Alawi Shrine, which has received around 165 pregnant cows and has already begun calving and actual production operations.
He explained that the cows used in the project possess high genetic specifications, and suitable infrastructure and fields have been prepared to match Iraq’s environment. He added that each cow produces approximately 30 kilograms of milk per day after calving, increasing during peak production to between 40 and 50 kilograms — an excellent production rate.
Rzouqi also revealed another major project involving large-scale milk production and calf fattening stations, expected to become operational within one to two years, with a capacity that may exceed 100,000 head.
He emphasized that the greatest challenge lies in implementing large-scale cattle projects, whether for meat or dairy production. Beef calves are typically imported at weights ranging between 250 and 300 kilograms and are then placed in fattening stations for approximately two months.
He further noted that the Directorate operates an artificial insemination center, while the Ministry is seeking to import genetically improved bulls from abroad, with each bull costing between 25 and 30 million Iraqi dinars including transportation. Their semen will be used to inseminate local cows to improve breeds and increase productivity.
He concluded by stating that a single improved bull can contribute to enhancing the production of approximately 1,000 cows; however, the implementation of these plans remains contingent upon the availability of the necessary financial allocations within the federal budget.