Despite the differences between farmers and industrialists, the start of the foot-and-mouth disease vaccination campaign yesterday united the meat sector, favored by the recovery of the price of cattle, which improved the productive climate.
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January 16, 2021 – 01:00
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With the recovery of the price of the steer to US $ 3.05 per kilogram and after the good rains that irrigated livestock areas, the productive climate improved and in this framework the first vaccination period against foot-and-mouth disease and bovine brucellosis was launched yesterday. corresponding to the current year. The event was held in the Altohondo cabin, Luque, in front of the north head of the Silvio Pettirossi Airport, with the presence of the President of the Republic Mario Abdo Benítez.
The head of the National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa), José Carlos Martin, highlighted that among the main goals of the sector for this year are the enabling of the United States market for our meat exports and achieving the presidency of the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE) by the representative of Paraguay, Dr. Hugo Idoyaga. He explained that the goal for the vaccination campaign is to immunize some 14 million bovine specimens and in parallel one million bovine females against brucellosis.
Martin stressed that, despite the pandemic, the solid system of public-private collaboration in livestock production in Paraguay, recognized internationally, allowed Senacsa to maintain normality in the operation of the health system, adapting all resources in the most efficient way possible. providing tranquility and stability to production and consumers. He pointed out that thanks to that, during 2020 a record volume of meat exports was registered, 0.5% more than 2014, but he omitted to say that in foreign exchange income it was 17% less against that year compared.
For his part, the president of the Rural Association of Paraguay (ARP), Pedro Galli, pointed out that the record numbers presented by Senacsa had the producer as the main actor, for Paraguay’s positioning among the best meat exporters in the world. However, he emphasized that the farmer is still the weakest link in the meat chain and that the risks and benefits are not adequately shared between producers and industrialists. “Beneath these record statistics lies another reality, we do not receive this income in the same proportion, in reality this year was disastrous, good for the economy (in the sector), but for the producers quite bad,” he said. He said that there is inequity in the construction of livestock prices, requested the inclusion of another scale in cold stores and that it be negotiated with Mainland China.
The head of the Meat Chamber, Luis Pettengill, responded that the prices of cattle and meat are in accordance with the laws of supply and demand, in the world and internally.
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