The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

Patagonia as a bridge to the world for Argentine livestock

2023-01-21T10:01:11.423Z


The export of live broodstock to Chile achieved by a Chubut herd carries a rich history of genetic adaptation and opens opportunities for the future.


Genetic adaptation is the master key for the growth of cattle farming in Patagonia, and health is the passport for this high-quality genetics to go out and conquer the world.

An example of this is the case of Río Frío, the Chubut herd that a few weeks ago completed the first export of live breeding stock to Chile,

a curious story of extreme climates, diffuse borders and clear objectives.

Pedro Schmalz lived his early years in a field close to the border with Chile, on the border between the provinces of Chubut and Santa Cruz.

He later grew up in the city of Comodoro Rivadavia, at the same latitude but on the Argentine sea coast, and later trained in agricultural production between Australia and the city of Buenos Aires.

But how could it be otherwise, he returned to the foot of the mountain range, specifically to the town of Trevelin, in Chubut, where for more than 20 years he has managed a family business that is more than a hundred years old.

The company is a pioneer in cattle farming in deep Patagonia

”, affirms the producer in dialogue with

Clarín Rural

.

On the Río Frío ranch, Schmalz directs an extensive cattle ranch project in which, through

genetic adaptation and respectful management of the environment,

they managed to transform difficulties into advantages.

“We don't do what we want, but rather what the environment allows us to do.

You have to be respectful, the climates here are very harsh, ”he clarifies from the outset.

The world recognizes the quality of Argentine bovine genetics.

Then he explains that the field is deep in the mountains, at a height of 700 meters above sea level, where

in winter up to a meter and a half of snow can fall

.

In this challenging context, the company dedicates half of its resources to sheep farming and the other half to cattle, which in recent years have shown interesting consolidation and have given rise to resonant news, such as the recent sale of four bulls to Chile. .

Schmalz explains that the management that is done in the region is yes or yes extensive, of about

one hundred cows every 2,500 hectares

.

In total, they have a staff of 1,500 mothers in pastoral conditions.

In the Andean areas, he comments, the plantings are usually for summer fields and winter fields.

Most of the land is covered by native forests.

In winter, the colihue cane is intertwined and generates

roofs under which the hacienda takes refuge on the harshest days

, and in those tunnels they find the tender leaves of the colihue that help to pass the winter.

Of course it's not easy.

The years of adaptation of the ranch are the basis of everything

, we attach great importance to genetics”, says the man from Chubut.

This adaptation is what allows them to have very low animal mortality.

In summer everything is kinder because the natural grass explodes.

In addition, in some mallines the forage supply is supported with direct sowing of fescue, ryegrass and clover, always without using agrochemicals.

Pedro Schmalz invites you to "listen to the cows".

During service season, they divide the herd by categories and use the most modern reproductive techniques, such as fixed-time artificial insemination and, in the case of the pedigree farm, embryo transfer.

That way they get excellent rates.

"Cold is a friend of fertility," explains Schamlz, and details that

last year pregnancy was 99 percent and weaning 85-90 percent.

In addition to the aforementioned adapted genetics, in this sense there are other factors that add up a lot, such as the very good sanitary status provided by these cold and dry environments, the excellent quality of meltwater and the intrinsic comfort provided by extensive management, with so much space and so little stress for the cows.

Once the calves are weaned, it is time to look at the numbers and the context and decide if they are sold as is or if they are raised and fattened on grass to reach 420 kilos.

In that sense, this year is not the best example.

“It is one of the worst because the price of meat loses against inflation and the price of grains to re-breed is very high”, warns Schmalz.

In winter, up to 1.5 meters of snow can fall.

In any case, he is very optimistic about the business in the medium and long term.

In the last 15 years, pastoral meat began to be valued in the world

and what used to be difficulties, if things are done well, can be transformed into advantages”, she affirms.

The cabin, a pillar of the entire system

“As a herd we are in a great moment, our bulls and heifers are recognized in Patagonia, the demand exceeds us, but I think it is important to take care of quality.

Selling the truth is the key to success

, ”says Schmalz, putting the magnifying glass on the genetic selection that they have been doing for more than a hundred years in Río Frío.

What do you mean by "caring for quality"?

How exactly is this selection made?

The answer is interesting.

We concentrated on listening to the message of the cows

.

If you take the time to observe them, in the field, in the pens, they tell you if they are doing well in the environment where they live”.

Schmalz says that he learned to distinguish cows from each other just as people are distinguished.

“There are expressions on the faces, attitudes when walking that tell you how the animal is.

I am not saying that the DEPs are not necessary, the information on birth weight and all that, it is good to measure them, but it is much better to listen to them ”, he says.

a door opens

Historically, Río Frío was dedicated to breeding the Hereford breed, which still dominates the cloth in cold environments such as those of Trevelín, but five years ago they decided to start incorporating Angus with the purchase of embryos from first-line cabins.

They are still evaluating the adaptation of the breed, but there are already positive signs.

One of them was known on January 5, when the

historic export of standing farms to Chile

was achieved .

They were

three Angus bulls and one Hereford bull

that have already crossed the border and are now serving their quarantine to join the staff of a ranch in Coyhaique, a few hundred kilometers south of Trevelin.

That of borders sounds strange to Schmalz, who grew up between mountains and rivers, much closer to Chile than to any Argentine city.

In fact, the Estancia Río Frío is right on that international border,

only a fence separates Argentina from Chile there

.

“When the puestero crosses the field many times with the Chilean puestero.

That simple wiring is imaginarily huge, ”he describes.

Schmalz explains that he has many friends and fellow producers on the Chilean side, and that thanks to those friendships he was able to push a strategy of softening up the authorities so that the export can be completed.

"The sanitary status of Patagonia, which is free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination, offers great opportunities but they have never been taken advantage of."

What he did was tell his friends to convince their colleagues of the advisability of incorporating the excellent Argentine genetics into their herds, and then all together to petition the Chilean health authorities.

Thus, after five years of attempts,

they managed to unlock the issue and open up an auspicious panorama both for Patagonia and for all Argentine livestock.

“Perhaps Chile is not the great market in the world, but it has a good reputation and that can open up other important markets.

Now we have to be more responsible and serious than ever.

The world likes our meat and our genetics, but the health barrier is difficult to jump.

I imagine Patagonia as a bridge to the world

, ”concluded the breeder.

look too

They granted credits at special rates for $2,114 million to Buenos Aires producers affected by the drought

The agtech ecosystem continues with power in the clouds

Source: clarin

All news articles on 2023-01-21

You may like

Trends 24h

News/Politics 2024-03-27T16:45:54.081Z

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.