Report by Veterinary Director Rob Grinnall
La Rural Palermo opened its gates on 17 July 2025, and the atmosphere in Buenos Aires was electric. This is not just a livestock show — it is a century-old institution woven into the cultural fabric of Argentina. The showgrounds themselves are steeped in history, inaugurated in 1910 and designed by some of the country’s leading architects. The elegant façades, sweeping covered pavilions, and grand avenues lined with livestock barns lend a sense of permanence and tradition to what is, for ten days, the beating heart of Argentina’s agricultural world.
The statistics are impressive by any standard: more than two thousand animals — sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, and horses — housed on-site and shown in competition; over a million visitors streaming through the gates over the course of the event. The livestock remain on the premises for the entire duration, cared for in permanent facilities that have been part of the show’s infrastructure for decades.
I attended at the invitation of DBT LATAC to promote UK agriculture and, in particular, the strength of our livestock and genetics. The welcome was immediate and genuine. Argentina’s connection to UK breeds is not a passing interest — it is a relationship built over more than two centuries, beginning with the export of Shorthorn and Angus bulls from Britain in the early 1800s. That history is still spoken of with respect and even affection.
My principal hosts were the Hampshire Down Sheep Society of Argentina, who had transformed their presence at the show into something truly eye-catching. Their stand was a hive of activity from the moment the gates opened each day.
Vibrant displays of merchandise, informative breed literature, and an enthusiastic team, created an inviting hub for visitors. Children were delighted by the person in a Hampshire sheep costume handing out balloons; farmers lingered over photographs of top sires and pedigree charts. UKTAG banners stood proudly at the entrance, and the UK breed society literature I had brought vanished almost as quickly as it was laid out.
That first morning, after greeting the Hampshire Down team, I met Fernando Hernandez, Director of the Council. Fernando has a keen interest in preserving and building on Argentina’s historic connection to UK genetics. Already he has fifty Angus embryos prepared for export from Dunlouise Angus and is eager to expand his Hereford herd.
He also voiced interest in acquiring between three hundred and four hundred doses of Belted Galloway semen — a specialist request that speaks to the growing curiosity in Argentina for genetic diversity. Standing beside his herd of original population Herefords at the show, Fernando’s pride was unmistakable.
On Friday, the show hosted a major bovine genetics forum. The scale of attendance was striking: farmers from across the country gathered to hear experts discuss how breeding choices could directly impact profitability.
The conversations went well beyond the purely technical. Producers spoke about the frustration of losses from vaccine abscesses, stress, and injury caused by poor handling, and the economic premium placed on marbling — a trait that, being genetic, offers an opportunity for targeted improvement.
That evening, the British Embassy hosted a reception for the bovine genetics sector, with some two hundred delegates filling the room. Organised by Federico Wodtke, the event not only marked the two-hundredth anniversary of agricultural ties between the UK and Argentina but also created a space where new opportunities were discussed.
Saturday was when the showgrounds truly came alive. Families arrived in droves, children pulling parents towards pens of cattle, sheep, and horses.
For the Hampshire Down sheep, it was inspection day. This is no casual glance over the rails — it is a meticulous, hands-on assessment similar to practices in Australia and South Africa. Two breed inspectors examined each animal for conformation and correctness, checking everything from head shape to leg placement. Wool was measured it is not permitted to exceed twenty-five millimetres. Veterinary teams moved in next, assessing gait, eyes, udders, and testicles, rams had their testicular circumference recorded, while ewes were scanned for pregnancy. Back fat and rib-eye muscle scans followed, with all data carefully noted for use by the judges if required.
In the midst of all this show, some ewes calmly lambed in their pens, a reminder of the agricultural reality behind the spectacle.
Each day, the showground air was thick with the smell of roasting lamb. Carlos Mario Laborde, President of the Hampshire Down Sheep Society of Argentina, had donated twenty Hampshire lambs to be cooked and served in the central food court. Prepared by an award-winning barbecue chef, the lamb rolls quickly became one of the most popular offerings at the event. Carlos insisted we sample them each day, and it would be no exaggeration to say it was some of best meat I tasted during the trip.
During the week, I gave an hour-long talk to farmers on “The Role of the Vet in Sustainability and Ruminants and Greenhouse Gas Production”. The presentation was well-received, and the discussion afterwards was spirited. Farmers spoke openly about their frustration at the way ruminants are singled out as climate change culprits while other industries appear to escape similar scrutiny. It was a sentiment that resonated deeply with what we hear from UK farmers.
On Tuesday, the Brandi family hosted me for a tour that began at the MAG Mercado Agroganadero, an extraordinary livestock market that can only be described as a small city of cattle commerce including the offices of over 30 auctioneers. Covering 110 hectares with 40,000 square metres of covered space, it moves ten thousand cattle through its pens each day.
SENASA officials, the Argentine equivalent of our APHA, have offices on site, and veterinary oversight is constant. Cattle are weighed both before and after sale, with the latter figure used for billing. From there, gauchos on horseback move the animals nearly a kilometre to 250 loading pens in an operation that runs with remarkable efficiency.
We then travelled to the Frigolar abattoir, a family business run for three generations by the Mengani family. Roman, the youngest member, welcomed us warmly, explained the operation, and led a detailed tour of the facility. Processing 800 cattle a day, Frigolar supplies both the domestic market and export destinations including China, the USA, Brazil, and the EU. The highest-quality cuts are reserved for Uruguay and Australia, with larger volumes of commodity beef shipped to Brazil and bones to China. It was clear that working at Frigolar is a source of pride in the community; jobs here are coveted, and the team’s cohesion and skill were evident in every department.
The day ended at a polo centre founded by British entrepreneur J. Baker, set amid manicured grounds and stables that seemed to stretch endlessly. Angus bulls grazed along the driveways, their presence a constant reminder of the agricultural thread running through even Argentina’s most glamorous equestrian pursuits.
Later in the afternoon, I joined the Vice President of La Rural to present the sash to the Reserve Champion Angus — an honour for an overseas guest.
Hereford judging day brought members of the British Embassy to the show, which was a great opportunity to explain livestock judging to the team which included the Acting Ambassador HE Bhavna Sharma. Their interest was genuine, and it was a pleasure to walk them through the finer points of both sheep and cattle assessment.
Being able to bring agriculture to the embassy team is a rewarding and essential part of these visits. There is no real reason why any of the team would understand a sheep show or the finer points of artificial insemination and it is here that I can really assist in explaining the processes and why it is so important to the UK and importing markets.
Thursday began with a face-to-face meeting at SENASA alongside Federico and LATAC Agri Attaché Tamana, focusing on progress with the bovine embryo export health certificate; face to face meetings are really useful in overcoming these delays in discussions. The following morning included a virtual meeting with SENACSA in Paraguay, where Tamana (Agri Attache), and Gonzalo from the embassy in Paraguay joined in person, whilst I assisted online, with veterinary input on the bovine semen certificate which has been on hold since changes in MERCOSUR regulations. Both discussions were constructive, and there is optimism that both issues will be resolved in the near future.
Friday was Hampshire Sheep Day, the centrepiece of my visit. Some 110 Hampshires had been entered and inspected, housed at the show for 10 days and then brought out to the main arena for their place in the spotlight.
Despite a damp sky after ten days of perfect winter sun, the energy around the ring was undiminished. Stewart Jones of the famous Maes Glas Flock in Wales judged the classes, which were divided by sex, age, and dentition. This means there are approximately 8 classes of males and the same in females. The judging mirrored UK practice but included the additional insight of the earlier inspection data.
The stakes were high; this show is as much a marketplace as a competition, and a win here can transform the commercial prospects of an animal. The champion Hampshire female sold later for US$10,000. Winning is huge, emotion, hollering, kissing is found in abundance in all victories.
Presenting sashes from UKTAG to the Champion and Reserve Hampshire Down Sheep, as well as Royal Three Counties Show rosettes, was a privilege.
Winning exhibitors and animals included:
Grand Champion Female from Cabaña La Puerta , from Córdoba was also chosen as Best of the Breed, a historic achievement for them. The flock also won Reserve Grand Champion Male.
Male Champion owner and breeder Gustavo Rasino of Managro flock.
UKTAG presented a prize for The Best Young Handler which went to a young man whose commitment throughout the show had been exceptional.
Stewart Jones and I were deeply moved to be presented with silver salvers by the Hampshire Sheep Association of Argentina, a gesture that spoke volumes about the friendships and trust built through these exchanges.
Looking back, the visit was both a professional success and a personal privilege. Through collaboration we can improve agriculture on both sides of the globe. It is important to note that the South Americans have advanced their livestock farming enormously. Argentina’s cattle industry favours smaller-framed animals, finishing at around 400 kilograms, with a clear preference for original population Hereford, Angus, and Shorthorn genetics, similar to those exported 200 years ago.
Their sheep are strong and the Hampshires have been hugely improved by recent imports. Texels are popular and could continue to grow in strength physically and as a share of the market. Of course, hair sheep, particularly Dorpers are popular in the hotter parts and wool is still significant in the more southern regions, but this is falling in demand and the Corriedale is certainly far less significant than it was. It may be that the UK terminal sire will be useful in crossing into these sheep that once were so sought after for their quality wool.
Most of all, the trip reinforced how agriculture bridges geography and culture. The joy with which Argentinians celebrate a win in the ring — whether their own or another’s — is infectious. Crowds gather, press cameras flash, and the sense of community pride is tangible. At every turn, I was treated as an honoured guest.
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to UKTAG, DBT, Federico Wodtke, Juan Portello, the Brandi family, and the Hampshire Sheep Society of Argentina for their generous support and hospitality.
For photographs from the event:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sociedadruralargentina/54670525055/in/photostream/
