Farmers on the Atlantic coast of Honduras have converted their grazing fields into plantations for oil palm, timber and fruit.
Their motivation is that materials for milk production have increased despite the accessibility of its market price. "... Large areas which used to grass land are now growing African palm, mahogany, rambutan and cocoa. Although this is significant for the country's economy because it generates more income as foreign exchange, the cattle are disappearing ... " said Samuel Espinoza, president of the Association of Ranchers and Farmers in the Atlantic (AGAA).
The drastic decrease in the number of livestock has generated a significant increase in imports of cattle in order to satisfy the demand for beef.
Information from the Foreign Trade Promotion Office (Procomer), reveals that in 2012, Costa Rica imported 11 times more live cattle than in 2011.
Erick Quirós, senior director of regional operations at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), said that this drop in the number cattle is a consequence of the crisis of 2009 and the impact of climate change.
Producers and industry are hoping to reverse 2012's downward trend registered, which saw a drop of 8% in sales compared to 2011.
Total exports in 2012 were for $419 million, $21 million less than the $430 million in 2011. In terms of volume, according to data from the Center for Export Procedures (Cetrex) the decline was 8%.
The manager of the Nicaraguan National Cattlemen Committe (Conagan), Ronald Blandon said, "In 2011 there were historical slaughters, almost everything held in reserve was sent to slaughter and animals were sent that had not reached their ideal weight. In 2012 there was also significant amounts of slaughter but it did not match with those of the year before last. "
Sanitary certification of slaughterhouses in Panama could take three years, therefor Panamanian farmers are planning to export beef to the United States via Costa Rica.
Senior U.S. government officials have warned the livestock sector of Panama that obtaining medical records and certificates of origin which are required in order to be able to export to their country, could take at least three years.
After two decades of steady reductions in the area devoted to the production of meat and milk, 2011 showed a rise in exports.
Many ranches have become littered with pineapple plantations, which offer better profit margins, and in this way, of the 2.4 million hectares occupied in 1988, the business now occupies about 1 million hectares, which has been adjusted according to final data from the National Livestock Survey in progress.
With sales exceeding $110,000 the Brahman the XVI World Congress 2012 concluded last week in Panama, having enjoyed the presence of local and international breeders.
"We auctioned 25 animals of the Brahman breed and the highest price paid for an animal was $7,000, said Peter Vallarino, president of the Congress", according to an article in Prensa.com
Beef cattle is mainly marketed in 17 auctions in which around one million head per year are sold.
Data from the National Animal Health Service (SENASA), indicates that almost 80% of all the cattle sold in Costa Rica is done so via livestock auctions, while the remaining 20% goes directly to packing plants.
The country currently has 17 livestock auctions, which sell between 15,000 and 20,000 cattle a week.
The Agricultural Competitiveness Trust will include in its budget allocations for breeders of beef cattle and milk cattle for the purchase of stallions, improved pastures, and other things.
"The deputy minister of MIDA, Gerardino Batista, announced yesterday that sectors producing beef cattle and milk cattle will be incorporated for the first time into the Agricultural Competitiveness Trust (Fideicomiso para la Competitividad Agropecuaria in Spanish), which provides incentives in areas such as the purchase of stallions, improved pastures and other things limited to the amount of $100,000", reported Panamaamerica.com.pa.
Farmers in Costa Rica argue that changing the property tax to one based on a sliding scale would be confiscatory.
A statement from the Legislature reads:
Representatives of national farmers argue that changing the property tax to a system based on a sliding scale, would be confiscatory for many of them.
This is how Leonardo Luconi, President of the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA) described the issue to lawmakers of the Standing Committee on Agricultural Affairs.
Panamanian farmers plan to export 15,000 veal calves per year to Mexico and are preparing to send thousands of heads to Costa Rica.
Panamanian farmers will send about 15,000 calves for fattening to Mexico a year, and aim to confirm the export of between 7,000 and 8,000 head of cattle to Costa Rica, where they have already sent 360 cattle.
Business in Mexico was closed with two primers of cattle whose annual demand is 300,000 heads.
A national survey is to establish the current herd numbers around the country, recording sex and age, and other data.
Costa Rica has about 51,158 cattle farms, but there is only up to date information on some 20,680 farms (only 40%), according to the National Animal Health Service (SENASA).
In order to improve policies related to the livestock sector, it is necessary to update the data, said Leonardo Luconi, president of the Livestock Development Corporation (CORFOGA).
The Nicaraguan Government’s National Cattle Traceability Program has invested $5.8 million and to date has managed to register 260,000 head of cattle from the five thousand registered ranches.
From a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Magfor):
The National Cattle Traceability Program implemented by the Government of Nicaragua through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, has spent $5.8 million and managed to register to date, 260,000 head of cattle in five thousand registered ranches.
The herd consists of 648,929 females producing milk and meat, according to a report by the National Animal Health Service.
Costa Rica closed 2011 with a herd made up of 648,929 females producing milk and meat and a total of 16,125 farms, of which 6,692 are listed as specializing in dairy products and as 9,433 as dual purpose, reported Elfinancierocr.com.
The Livestock Tracking Program has been launched in Nicaragua. During a first phase, records of some 200,000 animals will be started.
Nicaragua's General Office of Animal Protection and Sanitation (DGPSA in Spanish), a department within the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAGFOR), announced the beginning of the Livestock Tracking Program.
"The program consists of records that will allow to know where each animal comes from and where it is being sent, how many animals belong to each group and to which farm they were sent," said Willy Flores, head of the program, as quoted by the daily La Prensa on its website.
Lack of livestock traceability is preventing access of meat to the European market, for which there is a quota of 9,000 tons.
The biggest challenge facing the region is to meet the health, environmental and competitiveness standards demanded by those markets, said Alexander Acosta, from the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
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