International Cattle, Sheep & Goat Trade

Cattle, bovines, alpacas, sheep, goats, and other similar species are usually raised as livestock throughout the world for three main purposes. Firstly, these animals are raised for their meat, which is consumed as beef or veal by humans. Secondly, they are raised for milk and the production of dairy products. Lastly, these mammals are also raised for their hides and wool, which are used in the production of garments, textiles, and similar products.

International Cattle, Sheep & Goat Trade

Raised as livestock throughout every region of the world (except in a handful of inhospitable locations), alpacas, cows, and other bovines have adapted to the environment of every world continent, thus becoming extremely resilient. For example, some of the major species of cows worldwide are Angus, Brahman, Galloway, Charolais, Dexter, and Gelbvieh.

Bovine Trade and South America

Bovine or cattle, which includes buffalos, bison, oxen, cows, and bulls, is the 345th most traded product in the world. During 2016, the global trade of cattle totaled US$7.8 billion. That same year, the largest exporters of cattle were France, representing 19% or US$1.47 billion of global exports; Australia, accounting for 15% or US$1.16 billion; and Canada, with 14% or US$1.1 billion. Meanwhile, the world’s largest importers of bovine during 2016 were the United States, totaling 22% or US$1.7 billion of global imports; Italy, representing 15% or US$1.18 billion; and Turkey, accounting for 8.8% or US$685 million.

Within South America, the largest producers and exporters of cattle are Brazil and Uruguay, both of which exported approximately 2.5% or US$195 million of global exports (respectively) during 2016. In the specific case of Colombia, the country was South America’s third largest exporter of bovine in 2016, with 0.7% or US$52.4 million of worldwide exports.

Sheep and Goat Trade

The global sheep and goat trade includes rams, lambs, and bellwethers. During 2016, the international trade of sheep and goat totaled US$1.27 billion, which means that they represented the 820th most traded product in the world. That same year, the largest exporters of sheep and goat were Romania, representing 15% or US$191 million of global exports; Spain, accounting for 14% or US$179 million; and Australia, with 13% or US$166 million. Simultaneously, the world’s largest importers of sheep and goats in 2016 were Libya totaling 14% or US$177 million of global imports; Oman, representing 13% or US$161 million; and Kuwait, accounting for 7.8% or US$98.6 million.

Farmfolio’s operation at Ganaderia Pietrasanta (GP) in Colombia proudly manages several plots of grass-fed cattle, which are regularly rotated using the European, voisin-style grazing system. Farmfolio’s cattle spends between three and six months at the GP farm, where they range freely and organically gain substantial amounts of weight before being sold at a higher-price to beef-oriented cattle ranches throughout the region.

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