This week we’ve been getting ready for the XXXVII Expo Ganadera 2011 in Tepatitlan, the second biggest livestock expo held in Mexico, which runs from 24 April to 8 May. Mezquite Stud will be showing Charolais, Red and Black Angus. We’ve been washing, clipping and handling the show team, and the Charolais will go in first on Saturday. I’m really looking forward to seeing what a Mexican show is like. The Expo coincides with a huge fiesta which is held in Tepatitlan at the same time, so it should be a very interesting and colourful time. This week we were also doing a variety of other jobs on the ranch – sold a Charolais bull; AI’ing, weighing/recording (one of their red angus bulls weighed 1130kg) & registration. In Mexico, an inspector has to come and inspect each animal before it can be registered with a breed society. This is generally done at around 8 months (they must be 9 months of age to be shown). The inspector checks each animal’s tattoos and brand and that they meet breed standards. We also had to go into Tepatitlan to get a permit to move stock. Every time they want to transport cattle, they have to go and get a form filled out first and make a payment – so glad we don’t have to do this in Australia!!
I have limited access to the internet but will hopefully have some photos and a report on the Expo next week.
