Ing. Agr. Tabaré Aguerre
Ministro de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (Uruguay)
A transformational pathway for
Uruguay’s beef sector
Uruguay´s characteristics
Meat production and production systems
Uruguay as a reliable supplier of
differentiated meat
A transformational pathway for
Uruguay’s beef sector
Ing. Agr. Tabaré Aguerre
Ministro de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (Uruguay)
Uruguay´s
characteristics
Strategic resource: beef cattle per person
Uruguay´s Beef Exports
5% of World* Exports (quantity)
(*) Not including India
Brazil 26%
Australia 20%
USA 14%
New Zealand 7%
Paraguay 6%
Canada 5%
Uruguay 5%
EU 4%
ROW 13%
Uruguay has
negligible EEB risk
and is free of FMD
with vaccination
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Uruguay´s Beef Exports
Almost all the relevant markets (exc. Japan) (quantity)
China 26%
EU 25%
NAFTA 22%
Mercosur 9%
Israel 8%
Russian Fed. 4%
ROW 6%
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Natural grasslands
65%
Improved pastures
13%
Cereals and oilseeds
10%
Forests 10%
Other 2%
Uruguay´s Land use
More than 78% of the land devoted to beef, sheep and dairy
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Minister Agr. Eng. Tabaré Aguerre| 18 ago 2014
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1611
2006
1730 1780 1830 1863 1871 1924 1967 1973 2004
Individual Traceability in beef cattle (universal) Eartags and chips placed in all the animals
Minister Agr. Eng. Tabaré Aguerre| 18 ago 2014
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Individual bovine traceability:
As a public good and innovation platform
► First country that develops electronic individual identification of bovines
► Example of inter-institutional coordination
► Traceability as a public good
Health & Food Safety Monitoring Market Access Innovation
Meat production
system
65% Uruguay grasslands
• i
Production Levels at Baseline
Uruguay: Presentation of targets and model 13
Improved Grassland (15.4%)
Native Grassland (84.6%)
Supplementary Feed
19 kg/ha
Area Grazed by Bovines (AGB) = 11.1 million ha
• Weaning rate = 67% • 2-year heifers served = 50% • Steers slaughtered at 38m 9.4 million ha
1.7 million ha
• Farm Production = 102 kg LW/ha • Slaughter = 2.4 million heads/year • Beef production = 580 TMT CW • Beef exports = 400 TMT CW
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CNMPU USDA PVP NEVER EVER 3
• In 2014 the recognition of this scope by USDA was achieved
• Three claims that characterize it
NO GROWTH PROMOTANTS (*) - Never Ever
NO ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS (*) - Never Ever
NO ANTIBIOTICS (**) - Never Ever
(*) Prohibited by law in Uruguay
(**) Supported by the mandatory individual
traceability system
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Main meat certification programs:
Certified Natural Meat Program of Uruguay (CNMPU)
Scope: CNMPU Basic
Scope: USDA-PVP CNMPU
Scope: USDA-PVP NEVER EVER 3 CNMPU
Certified Animal Welfare Program (CAWP)
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Certified Natural Meat Program of Uruguay (CNMPU)
• Created in 2001 with the main actors related to the meat chain
(agricultural and industrial representatives)
• Certifies the entire production process from field to the packing stage
• The main aspects ensure:
Source verified
Open range-Animals never confined
No animal proteins in feed
Not fed antibiotics
No use of growth promotants
•
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USDA-PVP CNMPU
• Officially recognized by the USDA as a Process Verified Program (PVP) (Since 2002)
• Two categories are distinguished N6 and N5 (According to approved
Claims)
Source verified
No added hormones
Not fed antibiotics
No animal proteins in feed
Open range-Animals never confined
Grass fed
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Certified Animal Welfare Program (CAWP)
• Provides guarantees for good animal management practices at
each stage of the production process (farm, transport and
packing plant)
• Temple Grandin, leader on the matter, participated in the
reviewing process of the protocol
Grass-fed Beef
Meat eaters can get healthier fats by buying from producers that allow ' their animals to pasture feed. These meats are nearly as low in total and
saturated fat as skinless chicken breast, and they're high in omega-3s and vitamin E. Sources include
American Grass Fed Beef (americangrassfedbeef.com)"
Natural Health, Oct. 2003, by D.
Eller Grain-fed beef can have an omega 6:3
ratio higher than 20:1" J. Anim. Sci. 2000. 78:2849-2855
Research: health attributes (recent report)
Factors affecting fat content and fat composition in ruminants
Feed (pastures vs grain)
Animal age
Genetics
Building bridges to take advantage of oportunities
Suplementation in field
Health attributes of beef by production system Intramuscular fat (percentage)
1=Pasture based 2=Pasture + 0,6% grain
3=Pasture + 1,2% grain 4= confined
Poliinsaturated/Saturated
Type of fat content by production system
1=Pasture based 2=Pasture + 0,6% grain
3=Pasture + 1,2% grain 4= confined
Fatty Acid Relations
1,9
2,252,39
3,08
0,0
1,0
2,0
3,0
4,0
P P + S1 P + S2 C
•Omega 6/Omega 3
1=Pastures 2=Pastures + 0,6% suplement
3=Pastures + 1,2% suplement 4= Concentrates
Intra Muscular Fat & Saturated Fat contents
•Difference between 2.3 and 8 grams of fat per 100 grams
• 52 calories below in portion of 100 grams
Source GIM gr AGS gr
Uruguay Montossi y
Sañudo
(2004) 2,3 0,74
USA USDA (2009) 8,0 3,20
Pasture fed animals
• Higher contents of n3 fatty acids (2 - 6 times > grain fed)
Rate n6/n3 : (according to international papers)
Grain 15-20 to 1
Pastures 4 to 1
• Pastures contain 2 times more n3 fatty acids than n6
•Grains contain more n6
Uruguay´s Beef Sector
Mostly grass-fed beef Mandatory individual traceability system
From farm to export
product
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Growth
promoters are
prohibited by
law
Uruguay as a
reliable supplier
of differentiated
meat
Targets: Productivity and Environmental
30 Uruguay: Presentation of pathways
Productivity +25%
128kg/ha
Biodiversity Grassland improve
Climate -25% kg CO2 /
kg LW
Nutrients -27% kg N / kg LW
TARGETS
CHANGES REQUIRED
KEY
VARIABLES
Improve nutrition: • Improve pasture /
Introduce new species (legumes)
• Grazing management
• Strategic use of feed supplements
• Pastures irrigation • Water access
Improve grassland biodiversity Native forest conservation (1981 law)
Manure production Use of nitrogen fertilizers Use of phosphate fertilizers (Nitrification inhibitors use)
Cattle dietary changes Trees for shading Cattle genetics Reduce N2O
I. Pathways from targets: Win – win situations
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Productivity +25%
to 128kg/ha
Biodiversity Grassland improve
Climate -25% kg CO2 /
kg LW
Nutrients -27% kg N / kg LW
Improved pastures (legumes) reduces nitrogen losses
Grassland productivity and biodiversity
Improve nutrition increase reduces carbon footprint
Increase shade trees (double purpose)
Uruguay: Presentation of pathways
• i
Course of Action: Quantity & Quality of Nutrition
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Improved Grassland (15.4%)
Native Grassland (84.6%)
• Weaning rate = 67% • 2-year heifers served = 50% • Steers slaughtered at 38m
Supplementary Feed
19 kg/ha
Course of Action
• Improve management of native grasslands • Reduce stocking rate to avoid overgrazing • Increase fencing (more pens) • Increase water access & shade trees
• Double supplementary feed intake • Privileging young categories • Grain, minerals
Area Grazed by Bovines (AGB) = 11.1 million ha
9.4 million ha
1.7 million ha
• Double area of improved grasslands • Native grassland improved by inclusion
of legumes and phosphate • Winter forage
Uruguay: Presentation of pathways
Production & Environmental Effects at Target Year
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• i Improved Grassland
(30%)
Native Grassland (70%)
7.8 million ha
• Weaning rate = 76% • 2-year heifers mated= 100% • Steers slaughtered at 25m
3.3 million ha
• Carbon Footprint = 15 kg CO2/kg LW • Biodiversity = keep 11.1 million grasslands • Nitrogen = 48 kg N/kg LW
• Farm Production = 128 kg LW/ha • Slaughter = 3.1 million heads/year • Beef production = 730 TMT CW • Beef exports = 540 TMT CW
Supplementary Feed
37 kg/ha
Area Grazed by Bovines (AGB) = 11.1 million ha
Pathways from targets
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II. Pathways & implementation: a bottom up strategy PRODUCTIVITY BIODIVERSITY CLIMATE NUTRIENTS
Targets, Levers and Roadblocks
Target: +25% productivity
at farm gate (128kg/ha)
→ Lever 1: Inter-
institutional framework
& articulation for
technology transfer
→ Roadblocks: Technology transfer R & D Labor skills Entrepreneurial attitude / Risk aversion / Farmers age Farm infrastructure and water access
Target: Native forest conservation + grassland biodiversity
→ Lever 1: Forest law
based on incentives (1987)
→ Lever 2: Grazing
management
→ Lever 3: Stewardship
and environmental values
→ Roadblocks:
R & D
Stakeholders interests
Target: -25% kg CO2 /kg LW
→ Lever 1: Research to
improve feed conversion
efficiency (genetics)
→ Lever 2 Recognition with
higher prices/ new markets
→ Lever 3: Statistical
information about GHG
emissions and carbon
footprint.
→ Roadblocks:
R & D
“Cultural issues”: Breed
preference
Lack of financial incentives
Knowledge / Research
results adoption and diffusion
Skills building
Target: -27% kg N / kg LW
→ Lever 1: Deepen regulation on
water quality standards; soil use
and management practices
(Water and soils law - 1981).
→ Lever 2: Inter-institutional
articulation on water quality at
watershed level.
→ Lever 3: Best management
practices.
→ Lever 4: Incentives for
adoption of new technology.
→ Roadblocks:
R & D
Regulatory framework/
enforcement
Knowledge / Research results
adoption and diffusion
Skills building
Stakeholders interests
Interinstitutional articulation
→ Lever 1: Pathway and implementation design
Strategy for technology transfer on beef production Pathways on technology transfer by region Technology priorities to be promoted Definition of roles and responsibilities of each organization Funding related to action plans within this strategy Targets by organization?
Final remarks
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Beef is a key economic sector
There is an institutional commitment to sustainable
intensification, center of the strategic goals of the MGAP policy
agenda
Natural grasslands + technology + country strategy
Uruguay´s trajectory
From comparative strategy
To Sustainable Competitive Strategy
Ministro Ing. Agr. Tabaré Aguerre| 10 oct 2014
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Base para diferenciar producto
“Envasamos naturaleza y vendemos confianza”
Ing. Agr. Tabaré Aguerre
Ministro de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca (Uruguay)
A transformational pathway for
Uruguay’s beef sector