CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

This chapter reviews and analyzes the available information on Argentina?s beef cattle production over the period 2001-2010 and its prospects. Since 2007 the cattle stock decreased from 60.2 to 50.3 million of head, as a consequence of misleading public policies, a decline that was exacerbated by the worst drought in 70 years (2008-2009). The beef cattle/inhabitant relationship was 1.25 in 2010. Across the decade, the extraction rate varied from 21.8 to 28.9%. The lowest domestic consumption was 56.3 kg per capita in 2010. The traditional cattle system in Argentina had been eminently pastoral for years; although at present feedlots make a relevant contribution to the number of annually slaughtered animals in the country. As a result of the increase of areas destined to agriculture, mainly soybean, the beef cattle population has been displaced to zones of lower productivity. The export average for the decade was 468,439 tons with two peak export values being recorded in 2005 and 2009 and Argentina is the country having the highest percentage of the Hilton Quota, with 28,000 tons/year in 2010. Animal health programs are developed to control diseases that limit herd productivity and beef exports. The displacement of beef cattle production led to analyze the possibility of developing a non-traditional cattle activity in Mendoza on cultivated pastures. Argentina must increase its productivity in terms of reproductive efficiency to meet the requirements of domestic consumption and export markets. Stimulating variables exist to develop beef cattle production, such as the international price of meat, the input/product ratio and the growing international demand for meat. Argentina has the technology necessary to improve efficiency and to increase the stock. Nevertheless, among the challenges the country faces is the necessity to set up a sustainable system backed by public policies that contribute to its development.