August 16, 2005

Brazilian state attracts Arab companies to buy its live cattle

Following the export of over 30,000 live steers from Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul state to Lebanon, Arab companies from Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have expressed interest in purchase, according to the Pelotas Rural Association in Rio Grande do Sul.

Two other international trading companies from England and Uruguay have also stated their interest in purchasing Brazilian live cattle.

So far, the potential buyers have only started to make contact with the Pelotas Rural Association, and have not yet stated the purchase volume or date.

The association gathered producers responsible for supplying the cattle and recent animal shipments were mainly calves weighing between 150 and 280 kilograms. They were also of European breeds and crosses between European breeds and Zebus. As the cattle were not castrated, this ensured light beef that Arabs most preferred.

This was the first time live cattle were exported from Brazil's southern region to Lebanon.