IVARS Cooperativa has held this 14th of May, in the meeting room of its headquarters in Ivars, the 21st Beef Cattle Conference, under the title “Animal protein: debate, reality and the future of the beef cattle sector”. The event brought together livestock farmer members, professionals and experts to share knowledge, analyse the current situation of the sector and reflect on some of the main challenges facing beef cattle farmers.
The conference began with a speech by Víctor Díaz, General Manager of IVARS Cooperativa, followed by a presentation by Juan Narváez, veterinarian from the Nutrition Department, focused on advances in the feeding of young calves.
More than 40,000 head of cattle analysed to keep improving
During the presentation, emphasis was placed on the knowledge generated at the Cooperative’s experimental farms and on the analytical work carried out to transfer this expertise to its members. IVARS Cooperativa is currently working with data from more than 40,000 head of cattle collected since 2024.
The analysis of this data allows us to continue improving compound feed formulations in order to further enhance results, animal growth and feed conversion rates, while also testing the incorporation of more sustainable alternative products.
It was also highlighted that increasing protein levels in feed has shown an improvement in average daily growth, and attention was drawn to the importance of management during critical stages such as weaning or the arrival of young calves at the farm. In this area, reference was also made to the expansion of the Inglada farm, a key facility within the Cooperative’s commitment to applied research.
Challenges in the beef cattle sector and debunking myths about meat
The conference continued with a round table devoted to analysing the beef cattle sector, addressing issues such as difficulties in accessing replacement livestock, the origin of the animals, the management of DNC and the evolution of export markets. The Cooperative’s ability to help its members access young calves from countries such as France and Ireland in a context of shortage was also highlighted.
One of the key moments of the day was the presentation by Juan Pascual, veterinarian, science communicator and author, who defended the role of livestock farming and helped debunk several myths surrounding meat consumption, both from a health perspective and in terms of environmental impact. His intervention also underlined the contribution of livestock farming to resource efficiency, organic fertilisation, land management and other benefits that go beyond food production.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by Josep Coll, President of IVARS Cooperativa, followed by the traditional fellowship lunch. With this new edition, the Cooperative reaffirms its commitment to knowledge transfer, innovation and support for its livestock farmer members.
