By Cary Sifferath, U.S. Grains Council Regional Director for the Middle East and Africa

PROMAG-MABROUKA, a company based in Khelidia, Tunisia, recently turned to the U.S. Grains Council for guidance on expanding its feed-lot development and beef production. Having seen the Council’s feed lot locations in Morocco in 2012, the company’s managers knew the Council had the expertise to help them with their own plans.

The Council’s Moroccan consultant Dr. Mustapha El Youssoufi traveled to Tunisia to provide the necessary support during the early planning of the project, including input on economic and technical aspects, project designs and feasibility of possible site locations. Currently, PROMAG-MABOUKA has a small 350 head feedlot for fattening young cattle. In addition to cattle production, PROMAG-MABROUKA also produces different varieties of olive oil, fruits and various in horticultural plants in Tunisia, and the feedlot operation also produces manure to be used as fertilizers.

The company is now seeking to diversify and expand production through the construction of a much larger 6,000 head modern feedlot. While USGC is no longer working directly with beef feedlot development in Morocco, it is great to see the Council’s work used as a model in the region, due to our strong reputation. Feedlot development programs, similar to ones the Council has done in Morocco in the past, have been established in other parts of Morocco and now Tunisia.