This week has been amazing so far! We have toured mostly dairy and beef operations up until now. It was very interesting to see the way that dairies are operated in Uruguay. With the exception of the calves, the animals are raised only on grass. This is much different in comparison to the modern dairies in the united states. While the animals are in great condition, the amount of product received was reduced due to the lack of supplementation.

This is also paralleled in the production of beef cattle. In Uruguay the cattle are not only just fed on different improved pastures, but they reach harvest at a much later date. Some aren’t considered for harvest until they reach an age of 6. This is due to the fact that the cattle put on pounds much slower than they do here in the states. We can take a fat steer to harvest at 18 months, but we also have the luxury of being able to feed them highly concentrated feed that is directed towards growth.

So far it has been an awesome experience, and I can not wait to see what the rest of the week has in store for us.

Adios!