1978
“Because we were born strong... since we were breeders already, we started with the power of
well established institutions. Because our history, though recent, has a rich and eventful
background. Because we know that achieving human fulfilment is not doing what we love but
loving what we do.” These words were written by Carlos Dowdall in the first issue of the Brangus
magazine, published just six months after launching AAB. Its cover featured the male head that
still represents our Association.
• First National Brangus Show in Resistencia, Chaco. A breeding stock of 310 heads was our
“public launching”.
• Brangus Workshop ’78. Local Breeders and producers as well as representatives from USA,
Brazil and Paraguay attended the workshop.
• Short term aims were set and carried out at notorious speed. Among them: herd books,
inspections, control of Association-sponsored shows and sales, technical advice, information
and promotion.
• Breeding cattle and semen were exported to Paraguay and Brazil for the first time.
1979
The BREEDER’S MANUAL was published.
A crucial tool for teaching and promotion, it featured the following articles:
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
What do we call Brangus?
Brangus: Responding to a challenge.
Characteristics of the Powerful Breed.
How to get different varieties.
Breeding programmes.
How to become a breeder.
The Argentine Brangus Association.
Heading towards the Breed: The Association promotes constant progress in generations; the
initial hybrid vigour of F1 should not be considered a final step. We want to face the challenge of
selection for productivity and complementarity. Our motto was: “This is every body’s job, not
that of just a few.”
1980
• Invest in Brangus. In a period of difficult financial commitments, our magazine uses this
slogan to persuade people to see Brangus as the most convenient choice in the medium and
long run.
• Special regulations are worked out for
Red Brangus.
• COMEGA S.A. runs its first tests comparing growth, fattening and slaughter results in
Brangus with steers from British breeds
and Continental crossings.
• New Prize for Brangus Merit to be allotted to
the best breeder of the year at Shows organised
or sponsored by AAB.
• Brangus attends, for the first time, the renowned Palermo Stock Show organised by the
Argentine Rural Society (Sociedad Rural Argentina, SRA). Ample promotion of the breed: over
10,000 leaflets given out.
• During September, after very hard work
on technical grounding, the Brangus Breeding Plans are acknowledged by the National
Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.
1981
• Figures for the 1980 National Cattle Census are published: they show that in the previous 6 years, cattle herds in
the Humid Pampas lost 2,5 million heads to tougher ranches. The marginal provinces of Corrientes, Santiago del
Estero and San Luis witnessed a rise of 580,000, 400,000 and 300,000 heads of cattle, respectively.
• The Technical Committee sets devising selection tools based on comparative tests and objective criteria of
productivity as top priority.
1983
• The Association already has a membership of over 600 producers.
• Within a political context defined by the return of democratic governments, our slogan was: VOTE BRANGUS.
Under its sway, we “Made it to the Palermo Show” and had our first Brangus Champions.
• The “BRANGUS BRAND” was introduced in order to identify unmistakably all approved and registered breeding
stock as spelling quality and warranty.
1984
• Brangus continued “SETTING THE PACE” in National Livestock. President Luis María Firpo described the obvious
displacement of cattle breeding to marginal lands where rearing is
the main choice.
• Our slogan moved from “VOTE BRANGUS” to “DEMAND BRANGUS”. Levels of preference rise beyond mere breed
traits and underscore ever more strongly production traits.
• In the 48th Steer Show, organised by Lanusse Brokers & Consignors, Brangus steers reached higher prices than any
other cattle in the show,
for the first time ever.
1985
• The Technical Committee draws up the
REGULATIONS FOR PRODUCTION CONTROL (CP) which evaluate production traits of males
and females through a set of objective and subjective items.
• First Special Sale of Females “From Breeder to Breeder” at Del Viso, Buenos Aires. The top registered ranches show
their best females.
1986
• Within a mere 8 years, AAB mustered 935 members, 410 purebred operations and almost 100,000 registered
breeding stock.
• Aragón Foundation reports relevant research experience on black colour segregation and polled traits in Brangus
cattle.
• Corral de Guardia, a registered and purebred ranch, does the first Brangus embryo transfers in Argentina.
1987
• Permitted variations in red Brangus coat are set
out in Santa María del Recuerdo, an operations owned by García Llorente.
• During July, La Maya, property of Nottebhom,
in Monte Buey, Córdoba started The First Test for field evaluation of production performance of male Brangus
breeding stock.
It is conceived as a method for selecting ability
for growth, fertility, carcass conformation,
functional structure and breed definition.
1988
• AAB celebrates its 10th anniversary. More than 26,000 breeding stock are registered that year, which adds up to a
total 187,814 registered animals.
• The Brangus Project for the following 10 years is launched.
• First venue at San Justo, Santa Fe, of the sale known as “Brangus Night”.
1989
• Second Test of Field Evaluation at La Maya with 110 bulls from 22 registered and purebred operations.
• Alejandro Socas, president of AAB, states in his editor’s letter: “Brangus is the third beef breed produced in the
country”.
• Sucesor (Tresco M164) gets a record price for
all breeds at Palermo Stock Show (U$S 62,400).
1990
• The first agreement to get Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) using the Animal Model is signed with the
Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics of the University of Buenos Aires.
• Fourth Test on Field Evaluation at Corral de Guardia with 63 bulls from 25 registered and purebred ranches.
• The First Sire Summary is published.
• Fifth Test on Field Evaluation at Corral de Guardia with 43 bulls from 21 registered and purebred operations.
1993
• Fifth Test on Field Evaluation at Las Marías Ranch, Virasoro, Corrientes.
• AAB celebrates its 15th anniversary, and boasts 278,869 registered breeding stock.
• Final results of 14 Block Tests carried out between 1986 and 1982 confirm that Brangus cattle fits best in the
Domestic/Export category represented by steers with a live weight of 421-460 kilos.
• Registered and purebred ranches La Maya and Corral de Guardia export the first dams to Bolivia.
1994
• The First Project for producing Brangus Branded Beef to be exported to the European
Community within the Hilton quota is submitted to the National Secretariat for Agriculture,
Livestock and Fisheries.
• Technical Workshops at Los Corralitos of EPEU, Santa Clara de la Buena Vista, Santa Fe,
attended by 200 producers.
1996
• In his farewell message, President Javier Bulló, Eng., foresees that “cow time” is soon coming.
In relevant editor’s letters, the new President,
Dr Hugo Zuza, announces that “crop production is a partner of Brangus” since it pushes cattle breeding into less
convenient lands and tougher ranches.
• The First Bank for Brangus Breeding Stock is opened. It promotes direct contact between members.
• Breeders and cattlemen meet at Las Lomas Ranch of Bellamar Estancias S.A.
• Regulations for Herd Books are modified.
Restrictions imposed by percentage of Zebú blood are ruled out. Selection is oriented towards productive
genotypes and more adaptable.
• At the Mercosur Show, held in Virasoro, Corrientes, Dorado (Cruces YC976) gets record prize of the year in all
regional shows and sales for all breeds.
1997
• Promotion of field days: Estancia Santa Lucía property of Las Tres Cruces S.A., Cabaña
La Leonor of Estancias y Cabaña Las Lilas S.A. and Estancia La Bellaca of Gervasio Zuza S.R.L.
• The AAB Veterinary and Health Committee was formed.
• The following agreements were signed:
Exchange of Technology and Production with the College of Agricultural Science, Catholic
University (UCA), Genetic Evaluation with the Argentine National Institute for Agricultural
Technology (INTA) and Herd Books Transfer with the Argentine Rural Society (SRA).
• Minimum scrotal circumference measurements
are established according to categories and age
in sponsored shows and sales.
• “Top price year”: Cardenal, from Las Tres Cruces, Champion at Palermo Stock Show, reached
the highest price of the year (US$ 30,000) and Rosendo, from the same ranch, Champion at
Virasoro, got the highest price in Provincial Shows (US$ 12,000).
1998
• Brangus is “the Mercosur breed”, according to the current manager of AAB, Dr Martín Scala, at the presentation of
the third institutional video of the breed.
• The Argentine Brangus Association celebrated its 20th anniversary, with 335,202 registered heads.
• The new President, Rodrigo Steed, asks in his editor’s message: “WHY NOT GLOBALIZE BRANGUS?” He is
absolutely convinced that the breed adapts to perfection to different climates and markets.
• “The best prices in the decade”: males average US$ 2,418 (top price $26,000, for Raucó from Cabaña La Leonor)
and females average US$ 827 (top price $8,000, for Amuyén from Cabaña
Corral de Guardia).
1999
• “A much cherished dream comes true”: the National Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries allots the
first 40 tons of the Hilton Quota to AAB in order to export beef to Belgium, Spain and Italy.
• At the First National Brangus Show in Brazil, Argentine genetics got the highest prizes with progeny of Relmún and
General Roca, both sires from Cabaña La Leonor.
• Results of studies in traceability and tenderness coincide with those that led IBBA to name Brangus “the American
tenderizer”.
• Field days: They are held at Ministaló of La Tajada Establishment (evaluation of live steers and
carcasses by Horacio Avila), Don Enrique of Amarilla Agropecuaria S.A. and Tres Marías of
Agrocor S.A.
2000
• Publication of the Breed Pattern 2000, widely circu-lated among breeders, associations and universities.
• Cabaña La Leonor holds its first annual sale in Brazil. It gets record prices for its 370 breeding stock born and bred
in the Argentine Chaco.
• Field day at Las Flores Ranch, property of Estancias Unidas del Sud S.A., Gualeguay, Entre Ríos. This is a
commercial operations using Brangus genetics.
• Third allotment of Hilton Quota to AAB (49 tons).
2001
• The Brangus World Conference, held in the month of February in Houston, Texas, unanimously
agreed to vote for the project submitted by the Argentine Brangus Association to host the
Brangus World Congress in Argentina in 2003.
• “Brangus. The Powerful Breed in Argentine Cattle Raising” was published for the occasion. A
summary of its 22-year history in Spanish and English, it was also distributed freely in
Universities, Rural Associations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Embassies and Brangus Breeders’
Associations in several countries.
• Launching of “Effects of proportion of zebú blood, age at slaughter and maturation on the
quality of beef from Brangus steers”, a joint project between INTA (Argentine National Institute
for Agricultural Technology), EEA (Research Station) Colonia Benítez, Chaco, within the
National Project for Beef Bovines.
2002
• Regional Shows of Brangus Calves: The 1st Regional Show of Brangus Calves is held in
Presidencia de la Plaza, Chaco, together with the local Rural society. There were 490 calves in
a 2300-head herd. Sales were excellent, despite the country’s deeply uncertain economy. The
2nd Regional Show was held in Salta, in association with the Rural Society of that province.
• Field Days: 160 participants from several provinces in Argentina, breeders from Paraguay and
20 sponsors responded to the invitation of the Argentine Brangus Association and the hosts at
Est. Clarín, Formosa. They witnessed to the efficiency achieved by opting for Brangus: great
amenability, consistent with adequate management. A field day was programmed in
association with SANCAT S.A. at “La Tusca”, Lavalle, Catamarca. Lectures on technical matters
were delivered in Formosa, San Justo and San Cristóbal.
• Hilton Quota: Between February and June 2003, 64 tons of Hilton Quota beef were shipped to Germany, Spain,
Holland, Italy and Belgium. There was a remarkable rise during the period between June 2002 – July 2003, after
AAB was allotted an 84-ton share.
• Corral de Guardia Establishment celebrated its 25 years with its traditional Sale at Las Varillas, Córdoba. On this
occasion, “Facundo”, twice champion in Palermo 2001-2002, was purchased by CIALE for U$S17,900.
• The National Brangus Show in Resistencia reached the highest yearly average in Sales and Shows of the breed
(U$S1,450, in males and U$S490, females). “Faraón” national double champion 2001-2002 of La Dicha and Juan
Tardivo was purchased by SIRBO for U$S5,500.
• Prize for Merit: La Dicha, from Macagno, received this prize for the twelfth consecutive year.
• TV Programmes: “Hombres de Campo”, in the Rural Channel, initiated institutional presence on television.
• Opening of the first Joint Sale of Establishments from Formosa, witnessing to a commendable capacity for
associating.
• International Presence: AAB attended the International Foodstuffs Meeting (SIAL 2002) in Paris, France. It was
represented by its director, Mr. Santiago Gilotaux. An Argentine delegation attended the Brazilian National Show
in Cuiabá
and Mariano Roque Alonso Show, in Paraguay. It underscored a strong bondage among Mercosur breeders.
• First Special Brangus Sales at Liniers: Record prices are achieved in practically all categories, with
about 400 heads of cattle. The second Special Sale in December ratified the success.
2003
The year of the World Congress in Argentina
• Promotion of the Congress: an intense activity of broadcasting is carried out including the
association’s managers’ journeys to Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil and USA, where they
contact breeders and managers of those countries.
• II World Brangus Congreso
Previous field trip
Activities begin with a tour where 150 producers from Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia,
United States of America, Mexico, Paraguay, Puerto Rico and Uruguay visit one insemination
center and 13 registered and purebred ranches from different provinces of our country. The
repercussion is excellent. Concrete businesses are generated and possibilities of future
arrangements are opened.
• 3rd Gathering of Brangus and Livestock Workshop in Liniers
600 heads from 13 registered and purebred ranches from 8 Argentinean provinces are sold.
400 people attended the event. Ivan O´ Farrell´s hammer has reached the highest price of all
the categories of the Markets’ stock. The livestock workshop is given by the specialist Horacio
Avila.
• Palermo Stock Show
During the 117º Palermo Stock Show organized by the Argentine Rural Society, Brangus called
everybody’s attention. Before the traditional jury took place, the sires of the breed entered to
the exercise track. They were received with admiration and claps. The high quality exposed by
the 87 breeding cattle of 26 registered and purebred ranches of 7 Argentinean provinces and a
registered and purebred ranch from Brazil are judged by Dr. Jorge Goyenechea who gave out, in
front of full stalls, prices to Great Champions. Its jury was translated for our visitors at the
same time. These prices were won by Estancias y Cabañas Las Lilas S.A. in males (“Patricio”) and
La Dicha de Macagno Agrícola Ganadera S.A. in females.
• The Course of Lectures
Outstanding foreign and Argentinean lecturers provided lectures on technical matters related to
production. Different topics were grouped in the following blocks: “Cattle Industry, Production
and Markets”, “Beef: Quality and Demand” and “Brangus Breed situated at a more than 200
millions head-herd area”. 450 people were present.
• Brangus Show
A dinner that includes Tango Show precedes the successful sale, realized by Iván L. O’Farrell
S.R.L. at Palermo’s Central Restaurant. The best averages and the highest prices of all breeds
were obtained in both, males and females. $111.000 was paid for“Gladiator” from La Bellaca of
Gervasio Zuza S.R.L. and $20.000 was paid for the 50% of the Reserve Cow exposed by Agrodec
S.A. and bred by Estancias y Cabaña Las Lilas S.A.
• Hilton Quota
84 tn awarded were fulfilled.
• Brangus Check is Born
A special bonus of 1% above the price obtained with the settlement of the sales is awarded.
This is in charge of AAB and it will be effective
with the delivery of this document to the breeder associated to Hilton project.
• Brangus National Show in Resistencia:
It is realized during September in commemoration and celebrating the 25th anniversary of the
Association’s launch. Ex-presidents and celebrities have participated.
• Integration
AAB participates in meetings from APEA, CAPCV, IPCVA, S.R.A., S.A.G.PyA., Cattle Reality, etc.
• Corporal Condition Record
It is published with the collaboration of INTA Colonia Benitez and Animal Nutrition Laboratory
of Catholic University (UCA). It is a descriptive record about corporal condition (scale 1 to 9)
with clear explanations and illustrative photos.
• End of the work “Brangus Tenderness: effects of age at slaughter, proportion of Zebú blood
and maturation” with the collaboration of INTA Colonia Benitez. In this way, it is proved that
proportion of Zebú blood has not affected the tenderness and that beef, with a maturation of 7
to 14 days, are classified as tender.
• The Beef Committee is created.
2004
• “DEP´s at the field”
It took place in “Los Orígenes”, the ranch of Agrodec S.A., in Corrientes and it was realized in
association with the College of Agricultural Science, Catholic University (UCA). It aimed to
circulate our Genetic Evaluation Program and clarify concepts in the use of the DEPs as a
helpful tool of phenotypic selection. More than 150 breeders, farmers, professionals and
students have participated.
• Technical Workshops:
They took place in the meatpacker “Hughes” in Santa Fe (June), Tres Cruces ranch in Luján (July)
and in La Suiza, the establishment from Cresud S.A. in Chaco (November).
A research project about “Genetic and Environmental Factors that determinate the quality of
argentine’s beef” is launched in association with the College of Genetics from the Department
of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Buenos Aires, INTA de Balcarce and the College of
Genetics of the Agricultural Department (UBA).
• The AAB joins the Cattle Genetic Forum.
• Chinese Delegation arrived during May with the goal of verifying the genetic progress of our
herds. They are received, in the context of a long field trip, in Tres Cruces ranch, by Directors
and Technicians of the AAB.
• Visit to Colombia
Martín García Fernández -director- and Martín Scala -manager- , from the AAB travel to
Colombia to strengthen the ties with Colombian Association and to give lectures on “Critical
facts in the Argentine Breeding Cattle Industry” and “Beef Chains Integration” in the III
Colombian Beef Congress.
• “Live Brangus”
The schedule of this course includes a visit to Tres Cruces ranch, the 4th sale in Liniers and a
course of lectures realized during Palermo 2004.
• 100 years of La Leonor:
The traditional ranch from Presidencia Roca,
a Brangus institution, celebrates its anniversary with a great and successful sale and a
traditional party.
2005
• Calves Contests and Exhibitions
The high quality and prices obtained in every category help to consolidate this type of sales
more and more. Events realized in Presidencia Plaza, Gral. San Martín (Chaco), Formosa,
Rosario de la Frontera (Salta) and San Cristóbal (Santa fe) made them spread all over.
• Field Day in Los Reales:
Las Lajitas S.A. proved, with a great popularity, that things are possible in lands that were
wasted not so long. Bateries and ingenious food schedules woke everybody’s curiosity up.
• DEP´s: Great growth in data base enters
After demonstrating their utility in the selection and after the widely circulation made, data
base increases in 60%, with 46 new ranches.
• First Production Test in “Cabañas Formoseñas”
It launches in the Experimental Station from INTA El Colorado (Formosa). Calves of ages from 6
to 8 month from “Cabañas Formoseñas” had been taken with the aim of detecting the most
outstanding in: Weight gain with pastures and non supplementation, carcasses characteristics
measured by ultrasound, Fecundant capacity and functional and commercially attractive
phenotypic evaluation.
Those bulls that surpass the test and stand out among others will be the attraction of the
annual sale from “Cabañas Formoseñas”.
• III World Brangus Congress in Brazil
An Argentinean delegation traveled to represent our Brangus.
• First “Expochacra Ganadera”:
Joint with Exposium, La Nación and INTA, the 3 most numerous breeds of the country - Angus,
Hereford and Brangus - organize with the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute this first
Expochacra exclusive for cattle industry in Balcarce (Buenos Aires).
• 50th Brangus magazine is published.
• The Great Brangus National Show is brought forward by June.
With great popularity and unique sires, the Great National, now in June, confirms Resistencia as
the capital city of the breed with 3 days of exclusive Brangus: lectures, an interesting jury in
charge of Ignacio Corti Maderna and excellent prices that award our party.
• Travel to Colombia and Venezuela.
Dr. Martín García Fernández travels to Colombia to sign an agreement of cooperation to
develop a genetic evaluation program with the technical collaboration of the college of Animal
Breeding & Genetics of the Agricultural department of the University of Buenos Aires and to
strengthen the ties with the Colombian Brangus & Angus Association.
He also travels to Venezuela with Pablo Lambrechts, Eng. to be present in the ArgentineVenezuelan Agroindustrial Exhibition made in Barinas and organized by the INIA and the INTA,
where important connections with AsoBrangus of Venezuela are made.
• First Genetic Cattle Beef National Congress
Brangus had participated as a member of Genetic Forum with a stand and with the participation
of Dr. Rodolfo Cantet and Dr. Martín Scala as lecturers.
• Spreading
Field days are made in Salta, Formosa, Chaco and Córdoba. The year finalizes with a Technical
Workshop in Las Marías (Virasoro, Corrientes).
2006
• Teaching in DEP´s:
Due to the excellent meeting done in Tres Cruces, where breeders and technicians from
Colombia and Argentina had participated, an intense and fruitful debate has been developed. It
was inspired by lectures given by Drs. Rodolfo Cantet, Héctor Molinuevo and Claudio Fioretti
and by explanations given by Fernando Lamarca, Eng. in farmyards.
• Beef with brand
Through an agreement with ALIARG S.A., the quality of Brangus beef will arrive to the world with
its own brand. Brand “B” will certify our quality among our buyers.
• “Expochacra Ganadera” 2006
In this second edition, Brangus was present with the co-organization and excellent calves
herds
that had been very accepted.
• Great Brangus National Show 2006:
With the assistance of 32 registered and purebred ranches (11 of them are new), 268 animals
were met. The three younger categories competed for the first time in the 1 st National
Exhibition of Brangus Calves. During the course of lectures,
the summoned specialists made comments on
the situation borned of the government resolutions. Besides, the schedule of the Great National
was preceded by a field day in Alegría, in Formosa.
• Agreement for Ultrasound images interpretation
The agreement among the Angus Argentine Association and the AAB is signed, arranging the
availability of Ultrasound Images Interpretation Centre (CIIE) of INTA Castelar services. This will
make easier the standardization of data base reports, methods, equipment and the uniformity
of carcass will be also standardized so that more useful and reliable DEPs can be obtained.
• 11 Sire Summary
While growing, 80 registered and purebred ranches and 92.479 evaluated data from Argentina,
Bolivia, Colombia y Paraguay are registered in ERBra.
• AAB in the Global Food Marketplace (SIAL)
in París, France.
Martín Goldstein and Martín Scala had traveled to this important exhibition joint to APEA and
IPCVA to make our products well-known and to stand Brangus beef producer’s out. Interviews
were made and useful material was given in the stand.
• Argentine North Cattle Congress
Besides being sponsors, the Association had its own stand where members of the Technical
Committee answer some doubts and spread material.
More than 600 Corporal Condition Records
were used up.
After this historical survey, there will be little doubt that most of the goals set in
1978 were fulfilled. Many of them may have been imagined by the 1954 pioneers.
Success was based on much hard work, effort, dreams, a host of managers, breeders,
technicians, registered and purebred breeders, foremen and cow hands and their
patient families who put up with frequent absences for “the sake of Brangus”. We want
to bring them all together in our memories of those who had the honour of presiding
the Argentine Brangus Association, on account of their merit and the agreement of the
whole “Powerful Breed” family. 