Chad is repaying Angola a debt of $100m (£82m) with cattle, Angola’s state-run newspaper has reported.
The unusual agreement is seen as creating a win-win situation for both nations – Chad is short of cash while Angola needs cattle.
More than 1,000 cows arrived by ship in Angola’s capital, Luanda, as the first payment, Jornal de Angola reported.
In total, Angola would receive 75,000 cattle over 10 years, meaning it has accepted payment of $1,333 per animal.
Chad would send a further 3,500 head of cattle later this month, the report added.