One of the directors of Urugen highlighted what is currently happening with the breeding sector in the country, which he considered essential for the future of meat production. He mentioned that Urugen is now the exclusive representative of the Genex company, one of the main ones in the world. He also said that they opened a store in Australia and highlighted the growth at the level of the countries in the region.
Pablo D. Mestre.
-What balance do you make of Urugen this year?
-Positive all around. The most important thing is to have deepened commercial relationships with clients/producers, some of whom we have been working with for 5 or 6 years and the results are really very good. We also grew quite quickly in exports to our neighboring countries,
which are very interesting markets for us. In addition, we continue with our tours abroad looking for new bulls and learning about the strengths and disadvantages of other markets. This past year we were in the United States, Australia, Argentina and also in Brazil.
-What do you mean by “good results” for producers?
-The benefits of an IATF (Fixed Time Insemination) are quite clear. For those who are not very familiar with this technique, it consists of synchronizing the heat of the cows to be able to inseminate them in the same day. A reasonable pregnancy rate of around 60% is achieved quite consistently,
and the great benefit is that the calving is done in a concentrated way the following spring, achieving even calves and especially "head" calving, achieving more kilos at weaning of the calves. All this without considering that bulls of high genetic merit can be obtained at a very convenient price,
that in addition to the heavier male calves they will also leave us better replacement females (mothers) in order to achieve greater productivity in the following years.
-What marketing figures do you handle?
-There are bulls for all needs, and prices vary between US$5 to US$10 for massive/commercial bulls and up to US$70 for special imported bulls. We also offer the entire line of hormones and we have veterinarians who work with us to be able to carry out all the work,
in order to provide a complete service. We send the semen directly to the farmer's farm.
-What kind of demand does the Uruguayan breeder have?
-In general, those who want to inseminate heifers are asking for calving ease bulls, and that is the greatest requirement. What we always try is to try to see or know the cattle to be able to recommend the bull that best suits the system or the type of cows that the producer has.
We particularly work with bulls that we phenotypically believe are suitable for our production systems. That is, in addition to having reliable and accurate objective data, we look for animals that have consistent bone structures, ample musculature, and consistent and productive dam families.
-What are the novelties in the offer of bulls that Urugen has?
-This year perhaps the most important novelty is that we are exclusively representing the American company Genex, one of the most important in that country and with a worldwide presence. For us it represents an important challenge and a great responsibility, and it will be a great contribution to our clients without a doubt.
In this way we have bulls recognized worldwide such as Churchill Sensation 028X, Victor 719t or TH Lambeau in Hereford or SAV Resource, SAV Renown or Duff Napoleón 232 in Angus. In addition, in February of this year at the auction of the prestigious U2 Ranch cabin in Canada we acquired the "Wesson",
a red Angus bull that is going to make people talk when their children begin to be born in our region.
Our objetive
is that every year
more are achieved and
better calves”
-And the news of the company?
-As I mentioned before, we have had the opportunity to grow regionally with direct sales to Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay, but we have also opened a branch in Australia, with an office in Tamworth, New South Wales.
A very large market where we see a good opportunity to be able to take bulls that can be demanded by Australian producers.
-How do you see the insemination market at the moment?
-The numbers show that the producers who inseminate are the same, that is, the number of cows inseminated in Uruguay is quite stable. However, every year we have new clients and people who inseminate for the first time, so that trend should start to rise. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the moment that the calf is having in Uruguay
, where there are very good prices for all categories and especially the calf has a very interesting value. It would be very good for the entire chain if more and more producers are encouraged and invest in this technology, since the advantages are quite clear.
-What do you plan for Urugen?
-Our basic objective is to achieve every year what our slogan says: "more and better calves". Breeding is inevitably a medium/long-term activity, so we are committed to lasting relationships, both with our clients, suppliers and work team. This activity has something very good,
and it is that it allows you to have interaction with people who have been raising cows for a long time and have been in the field, and that for us has a great learning value.
-How do you see the current crop of reproductive sales?
-The bull harvest should be very good and current, since we have very good current prices and the prospects for Uruguayan meats are also favorable for the coming years. Spring seems to have finally arrived and weather forecasts are showing no warning signs for now,
so we think it's an excellent time for growers to invest in genetics.
Source:: Rurales El PAIS
