As part of the “Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) programme, a study visit to Austria led to the signing of a “Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Armenia, Strategic Development Agency NGO, and Cattle Breeders Austria”. Building on the cooperation established through the MoU, 64 Fleckvieh cattle have now been imported to Armenia, acquired by two livestock farmers.
In Austria, the participants had the opportunity to gain first-hand insight into Fleckvieh breeding, the assessment of genetic potential, productivity enhancement, and the application of modern breeding and reproductive technologies. The MoU signed during the visit further established a framework for sustained cooperation between Armenian and Austrian professional institutions in these areas.
The cattle were subsequently allocated through a draw-based selection process, ensuring that each farmer received the animals acquired for their respective farm in accordance with the pre-agreed arrangements. This small but meaningful moment also reflects the programme’s broader approach: not simply learning from international experience, but translating it into solutions that can be applied in practice.
Fleckvieh is a dual-purpose breed, combining strong potential for both milk and meat production. The introduction of such genetic material can contribute to the qualitative improvement of Armenia’s cattle herds, enhanced productivity, and the wider adoption of modern breeding practices.
Within INLIMA, this is not an isolated initiative. It represents the next step in translating the knowledge and partnerships developed in Austria into practical application in Armenia – moving from international professional cooperation to the farm level, and from individual farms towards the long-term development potential of Armenia’s livestock sector.
“Innovative Livestock Management: Animal Migration, Breeding & Markets” (INLIMA) project is implemented by Strategic Development Agency NGO and funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), the operational unit of Austrian Development Cooperation.