Science and technology: the path to sustainability

It was in the state of São Paulo that the first cattle brought to Brazil arrived during the colonial period. The first bovines to reach the country were sent from Cape Verde, in Africa, to the Captaincy of São Vicente, on the state’s coast, where they were used as labor in sugarcane mills.

Since then, a lot has changed. The state developed and became an important livestock hub. Today, São Paulo has an estimated herd of 10.6 million head of cattle, of which 93.43% are intended for beef production. It is the third largest producer in Brazil, behind Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul. Around 11% of Brazil’s cattle slaughter took place in the state of São Paulo in 2019.

Most production is pasture-based, spread across 4.9 million hectares. Feedlot production is also present, especially during the finishing phase, the final stage of beef cattle production. The state accounts for 17.7% of cattle finished in feedlots in Brazil, with an estimated 5.2 million head.

Livestock farming depends on natural resources and, for this reason, continuously seeks to minimize environmental impacts throughout the production process. Through science, research, and technology, the livestock industry evolves every year, adopting best practices across its production chain and implementing initiatives that ensure increasingly sustainable production.

In the city of Colina, in the northeastern region of the state, about 410 km from the capital, the concept of Boi 777 was developed by APTA, focusing on increasing production efficiency while promoting sustainability. The production system proposed by Boi 777 recommends that cattle reach seven arrobas at weaning, seven during the growing phase, and another seven during fattening, shortening the production cycle.

Several tools and technologies are applied throughout production, including pasture recovery and division, improvements to water systems and drinking stations, and nutritional optimization, among others. The results are positive in every aspect: reduced slaughter age, improved animal welfare, and significant enhancement in meat quality. Added to this are gains in environmental and economic sustainability, as well as the preservation of biodiversity and local ecosystems.

Did you know, for example, that well-managed pastures can achieve a positive carbon balance? That’s right. In healthy pastures, carbon absorption is greater than carbon emissions. This process is known as “carbon sequestration,” which is the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Pastures capture carbon and release oxygen into the atmosphere.

According to data from Embrapa, correctly managed pastures can sequester more than three tons of carbon dioxide per hectare per year, increasing soil organic matter while improving soil fertility and pasture quality, the main food source for cattle.

Regarding nutrition, it is important to highlight that diets used in intensified systems, such as Boi 777, include grains and other concentrated feeds. This is another factor contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions — greenhouse gases that are major contributors to global warming. The use of more concentrated diets in feedlot systems shortens the production cycle, reducing methane emissions per kilogram of beef produced.

Higher-quality diets for cattle also mean higher-quality beef on consumers’ tables. Meat produced in intensified systems tends to be more tender, juicier, and more flavorful — premium-quality beef, regardless of the preferred cut.

The future of livestock farming is happening now. Supported by science and cutting-edge technology, cattle ranchers and all sectors of the beef production chain are working with a focus on high productive performance, building new horizons based on respect and dedication to sustainable production, creating a positive cycle where everyone benefits: people, animals, and the planet.

Source: Scot