Zebu cows in Pará, Brazil
In southeastern Brazil, bovine beauty contests help determine the most desirable cows in the world – and these “supervacas” are changing the cattle breeding industry as we know it.
The world, the world’s largest agricultural fair dedicated exclusively to zebu cattle, is held annually in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Organized by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders, it is one of the most traditional and influential events of Brazilian and international agribusiness, with over 90 editions since its inception in the early twentieth century.
More than a fair, it is a Beauty Beauty Contesttells the.
The “zebu” cows of draped neck that go to contest during the event are originally from India, but settled in the South American country in the nineteenth century-initially thanks to a natural heat resistance and parasites, that the European races did not, and later thanks to genetic modifications and cloning.
In Minas Gerais, cattle breeding brought abundance to a region known for its poverty, and Zebu, which now constitutes about 80% of the cattle population From the country with more than 230 million heads, it is its exponent.
Thanks to genetic modification programs implemented from the 1970s, both the plants that these “supervacas” eat, such as cattle itself, became increasingly strong.
In the 1990s, when animal reproduction programs began to gain strength in Brazil, Zebu became literally greater – And the average weight of an animal has increased by 16% since 1997observa o The Economist.
Mark in these contests Cattle buyers around the worldthat flows there Not to buy cows individual, but to have access to your genes.
These elite Zebus can be worth millions of euros. Last year, a female, with the peculiar name of Viatina-19 FIV Mara MovéisIt became the most valuable cow in the world. Cost 3.7 million eurosthere is a team of veterinarians and even an armed bodyguard to ensure that it remains safe and healthy.
Cows like Viaatina-19 have three ownerseach with the right to reap their eggs for four months of the year and sell them to creators, who will go after license these genes to farmers who intend to sell their meat.
How to expect, Awarded Zebus are also clonedto ensure that your genetic lines remain intactnote or.
The robust beef of these Zebu genetic manipulation actions opened the door not only to a Greater access to cow meatbut also to a safer supply chain.
The World Animal Health Organization is now about to declare Brazil as Father -free country – An advantage not only for Brazilian agriculture, which prepares to master the world markets with its supervacas, but also for the Safety and Food Hygiene all over the world.
