Cattle numbers fall sharply in Argentina
The Argentine Agrarian Federation (FAA) has released a report which shows that the country’s cattle herd has fallen dramatically.
"For the year 2009-10, the cattle herd decline is seven million head more than in the previous year. This is alarming," said FAA vice president, Pablo Orsolini. The report shows the cattle herd for 2008-09 totalled 55 million compared with 48 million in 2009-10.
"With these figures, the national cattle herd moves to the lowest level for the last 45 years, it’s a disastrous situation,” said Mr Orsolini.
According to reports, there are more than 250,000 cattle farms in Argentina; however, 90% of these have fewer than 500 cattle. “he drop in levels of livestock production impacts directly on the reality of small and medium producers, since they are primarily engaged in this activity," Mr Orsolini explained.
Factors contributing to the decline include the serious drought that hit the country in 2008 and the first half of 2009 as well as global economic conditions and inefficient export policies.
