9 April 2008
Luanda — The Brazilian cattle breeder and milk producer Eduardo Lippincott said Monday in Luanda that Angola has natural and human conditions to become soon a "a potential meat producer" with capacity to export to Africa or America.
Eduardo Lippincott, who was leaving back for his country said so as an assessment of his participation in the Cattle Fair held in Luanda, to which he brought six of his best cows and one of the best bulls he owns.
"I saw a lot of similarities between Angola and Brazil. They have many things similar: the weather, the soil (...). I see Angola as a potential meat producer. Very soon Angola will stop importing meat to export it. Besides feeding all its people, I see the country as a meat exporter even competing with Brazil," he predicted.
For this to happen, he advised, experts and local breeders should invest in genetics and cattle improvers (cross-breeding races, previously selected and ready for reproduction).
"Cattle selectors usually choose what is good and sell out the rest. In Brazil there are breeders who have been selecting cattle for a long time. The advantage is that Angola can buy a ready product rather than having to go through years of sacrifice and selection," he explained.
Eduardo Lippincott thinks that another immediate step to make this to come true is the increment of supply of cattled in many regions of the country, coupled with the construction of new infrastructures where there is much grass and other requirements.
The formation of cattle pasture, with seeds from Brazil could also be used ensure the rise in production is the third measure that should be taken into account in the quest for breeding affirmation in Angola.
"Local breeders can bring seeds from Brazil, which ironically came from Africa. In the past, Brazilians came here and took seeds from African grass planted throughout the country. Now the grass returns to the motherland," he said.
As to his participation in the Cattle Fair, Lippincott said that he was impressed with the level of participation, mainly with the presence of farmers and businessmen competing among themselves to purchase elite animals when the first cattle of breed was auctioned in Angola.
He said that the heads of the cattle sold on Sunday in Luanda will serve as seeds for a big herd, assuring that they are from a good breed.
The bull which was sold has already been considered as the third best bullock in Brazil. It won the third prize in Expo Brahma, the most tough and competitive exhibition in that southern American country in terms of cattle promotion, the source also said.
"With this, breeders will have more time and work. But I think the practice of auctioning will be common in Angola. We sold oxen and six cows of a good level and prices are similar to those made in Brazil. Here, cattle of this breed are few. The auction was very interesting".
For the auction participation levels, he said, it is high time Angolans started investing in the purchase of productive breeds.
This activity, he added, can progress in Angola without need for a push from cattle breeders like him, because it is a passionate practice and brings in many incomes for any country having soils with productive goods.
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