Federico grew up in a family historically linked to Uruguayan beef and sheep farming.

Since
early 1900s, his ancestors have been farming in northern Uruguay and committed to its
rural development. He has been involved with farming since the early stages of his life.
Through this Federico learned the values and responsibility of working hard through
challenges like rain, frost, or high temperatures. Spending time at the farm helped him gain
the love for beef cattle production as well as be an example for the other farm workers.
Academically, Federico earned an accounting degree and then moved to New Zealand to
do postgraduate studies in agribusiness.
Currently, his family business runs a cow calf operation with Hereford and Red Angus cross
cattle, and a flock of Merino sheep. In regards to the beef cattle operation, calves are
weaned at 60 days old feeding them with purchased grain meals. The aim of this is to lift up
the pregnancy rate. Furthermore, with the objective of risk management, the replacement
rate on the breeding herd is 100%. This is because heifers are a difficult stock class to
market it when little rain is happening. Moreover, steers are sold as feeder cattle for some
other rancher to finish them, mainly on pastures.
Last October, Federico was invited as a Young Leader representing Uruguay, for the annual
conference in Mexico of the Five Nations Beef Alliance (now named International Beef
Alliance). Attending the conference, Federico had the opportunity to interact and exchange
ideas and visions of the beef sectors with other Young Leaders from Australia, Canada,
Mexico, New Zealand, Paraguay and the USA.

URUGUAY
Located in the Southern Cone of South America between parallels 30 and 35 to the south,
53 and 58 to the west, Uruguays terrain is known for its plains and fertile coastal lowland,
with its highest point at 500 meters. With an area of 17 million hectares, the country holds
3.3 million inhabitants that mainly come from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germans, Russia and
Poland. Uruguay is one of the smallest countries in the continent.
Together with temperate climate and the above characteristics, this Latin American country
is highly suited for raising cattle year round, free ranged and on a pasture based system.
Temperatures may rise up to 41 Celsius degrees in summer but do not go under the 0
degrees with adequate rainfall during the year.
Around of Uruguayan territory is used for cattle production. Approximately 13 million ha
(32 million acres) are covered with 12 million head of beef cattle, with a breeding herd of 34 million. Apart from pastures beef cattle in Uruguay receive some supplements as part of
their diet.
Pastures used to finished steers are legumes such as alfalfa, lotus, red
and ryegrass. So when this stock class gets to 2 and half or 3 years
slaughtered. Annually, the total amount of animals going to abattoirs per
million heads. The carcass yield ranges from 52 to 55%, as a result of
system.

and white clover

of age they are
year is around 2
a pasture based

Out of the total Uruguayan herd, 50% is Hereford. The next most prominent breed is
Angus, and there is a tendency for producers to use composite breeds like Braford and
Brangus.
Since May 2003, Uruguay is certified free of foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination by
the World Animal Health Organization. Hence, every six months, ranchers must vaccinate

their young stock classes and once a year, the other type of cattle. The government with its
public offices is responsible for the costs of the vaccines. Moreover, it is of significance to
establish that Uruguay is declared free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) and
growth hormone for cattle production is banned by law.
The 2006 calf crop was the first one to be tagged with the new traceability system. Actually,
100% of Uruguayan beef herd is fully traced from birth to slaughter. The system
implemented requires two tags on every animal, one visible on the left ear and an
electronic tag on the right and lost tags must be immediately replaced. The purpose of this
system is disease control, quality beef production and marketing.
Marketing for the Uruguays beef sector is of great significance. This is supported by the
fact that 80% of its production is exported to more than a 100 destinations. The countries
main export markets, on monetary terms, are the European Union, NAFTA and rest of
Europe.
Currently, Uruguayan Department of Agriculture (MGAP) is launching a different strategy to
promote our beef throughout the different markets. In September, we were approved by the
USDA into the Never Ever 3 program. It consists of beef animals that during their entire
lives did not receive: antibiotics, growth promotants neither being feed animal by-products.
The first shipment to the US was in early October.
In the near future, it is going to be in the futures market for steers. Those involved in this
market hope it will reduce volatility and increase certainty for beef farmers. They hope it will
make prices more even within each season.