SÃO PAULO – The Brazil-Iraq Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that the Middle Eastern country is interested in buying dairy cattle from Brazil.

“The girolando breed has shown that it fits well with our climate,” said Hayder Majeed Hameed Hameed, owner of an Iraqi animal protein company, in a statement released by the organization. There are ongoing experiments and negotiations, and businesses may also include equipment for production farms.

The chamber recalled that Iraq has already imported Brazilian Nelore and Nelore cattle crossed with angus for fattening and slaughter, and says the goal is to expand purchases of animals for milk production.

In general, the Iraqi herd has been greatly reduced because of attacks by the Islamic State, and the rebuilding project is part of the country’s government-backed program of resumption of agricultural and cattle raising activity, which has investments of $ 400 million.

According to the organization, Iraq had a herd of 2.5 million head two years ago, but currently that number is 70% lower.