Ganadería de precisión y trazabilidad, la apuesta de valor de COSUFI (#889 2020-08-15)

Summary

La Catalina, a century-old Argentine agricultural and livestock establishment, leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance its cattle breeding, feedlot operations, and precision agriculture. By incorporating genetic improvements, precise traceability, and data-driven management, the company achieves significant efficiency and productivity gains. Gustavo Casagrande explains how modern tools like digital chips, breeding programs, and real-time data collection are utilized to track cattle from birth to market, ensuring high-quality beef production. The company’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and team collaboration drives its success in the competitive agricultural industry.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Catalina is a century-old agricultural establishment in Argentina, focusing on precision agriculture and livestock management.
• 😀 The company integrates traceability and management systems for cattle, starting from birth and continuing through to feedlot operations, using advanced technology.
• 😀 Gustavo Casa Grande emphasizes the efficiency of the entire operation, from breeding to feedlot and agriculture, showcasing the use of modern technologies for better outcomes.
• 😀 The implementation of genetic selection and breeding techniques, such as inseminating 6,500 cattle in four years, has significantly improved production quality and meat output.
• 😀 The company uses high-quality genetics provided by Bernardis and Leal to enhance the productivity of bulls and cows, measuring key indicators such as ease of calving and weaning weights.
• 😀 All cattle are equipped with electronic chips at birth, enabling precise data collection and tracking throughout their lifecycle, helping improve management and selection decisions.
• 😀 The management system tracks all necessary data, including animal IDs, birth weights, and parental information, allowing for detailed analysis and improved productivity.
• 😀 The farm has a capacity of 8,500 breeding cows, and it effectively manages the cattle by separating them into 56 different breeding lots based on calving cycles and herd quality.
• 😀 The company's feedlot has a capacity of 7,500 animals and uses technology to track weight gain, feed consumption, and overall conversion rates to improve performance and profitability.
• 😀 Continuous improvement is a key focus for the company, which integrates new technologies such as electronic tags, detailed data systems, and specialized feed management to optimize cattle performance.
• 😀 By focusing on sustainable practices, precise data collection, and ongoing improvements, the company strives to remain competitive in the agricultural and livestock sectors while ensuring high-quality products for consumers.

Q & A

What is the main focus of La Catalina's operations?

La Catalina is focused on integrating advanced technology into its agricultural and livestock operations. Their goal is to increase efficiency through precision agriculture, genetic improvement in cattle, and a comprehensive traceability system from birth to feedlot processing.

How does La Catalina manage livestock traceability?

La Catalina uses a detailed traceability system where each animal is identified with a chip at birth. This allows them to track the animal's entire lifecycle, from birth, breeding, and health data, to weight and carcass quality assessments.

What technological tools have been implemented to improve livestock management?

La Catalina employs precision farming tools, including genetic testing, livestock chips, and a specialized software program (Bitcon Yale Alta) to manage and analyze data such as birth weights, breed, and growth rates.

How does La Catalina measure the efficiency of their livestock?

They use a combination of chip-based identification and software to track individual animals, monitor their growth rates, and assess factors like carcass quality, muscle mass, and fat content. This data helps in selecting animals with the best conversion rates for feedlot production.

What are the key goals in terms of genetic improvement at La Catalina?

The company focuses on improving genetic traits such as pigmentation, frame size, and meat quality. They aim to select breeding bulls and cows that produce higher-quality beef with better conversion efficiency.

What is the role of digital tools in the company's management of cattle?

Digital tools are used to monitor every aspect of cattle management. This includes tracking individual animal data, managing breeding schedules, and analyzing productivity metrics such as weight gain, feed efficiency, and carcass characteristics.

How does La Catalina use pasture management to enhance livestock productivity?

La Catalina manages different pasture types based on land quality, using rotational grazing to optimize forage production. They have planted various grasses and legumes to improve pasture quality and increase livestock load capacity per hectare.

What strategies have been implemented to deal with the variability in pasture quality?

The company has adapted its pasture management by planting different types of forage for different land areas. They use silage as a backup for months with lower pasture availability and employ yearly corrections to maintain optimal pasture health.

How does La Catalina ensure high-quality feedlot performance?

In the feedlot, they use a system to weigh and monitor each animal’s growth. The cattle are classified into categories, and data collected during this process helps to ensure that animals are gaining weight effectively and meeting quality standards for beef production.

What is the significance of La Catalina's traceability system in terms of quality control?

The traceability system is crucial for ensuring consistent quality across the supply chain. By tracking each animal from birth through feedlot and processing, La Catalina can monitor genetics, health, and productivity, leading to higher-quality beef that meets market demands.