Says Goat: Are We There Yet?

By Brooke Edwards

October 3, 2019

Last Updated: November 30, 2011

Heifer believes that we can achieve more together by working with communities, local governments, organizations, and other partners. Heifer has several longstanding relationships with organizations that share in the mission of Heifer International and our belief that we can end hunger and poverty. One of these organizations is our global partner, Bóthar, based in Limerick, Ireland.


For the past several years, Bóthar has run a series of adorable commercials encouraging donations of livestock to help poor farmers around the world. This year, they've allowed us to Americanize and Heiferize their commercials to share with you. Take a look:

We began working together in 1991 with a project in Uganda. Bóthar then was a newly formed organization of Irish farmers who had a grand idea to send as many Irish dairy heifers as possible to Africa. The first airlift of 20 in-calf dairy heifers left Shannon Airport for Uganda that year, and this simple and powerful idea of sending livestock to support families in developing countries rapidly gained widespread support. Twenty years later, Bóthar’s work has expanded to include working with more than 16 different animal species in more than 35 countries, together with training in animal husbandry and sustainable farming.
Bóthar has airlifted more than 4,550 Irish dairy heifers to communities around the world, each transforming the lives of recipient families. Because each family Passes on Gift of the first female calf to another family, Bóthar estimates that a further 15,000 "pass-on" heifers have enriched the lives of families formerly living in poverty.
Through partners like Bóthar, individual supporters and others, Heifer is able to scale up our impact, reach more communities and families, and move forward in getting there.  
To learn more about Bóthar and their work, visit Bóthar’s site at www.bothar.ie. Or follow them on Twitter at @bothar or on Facebook.

Information provided by Meredith Rolf, international resource development manager at Heifer International.