Patagonian cattle farmers demand urgent measures to preserve sheep production in Argentina

In a statement, the federations of Chubut, Santa Cruz, Río Negro, Neuquén and Tierra del Fuego, supported the claims of their northern counterparts, demanding that the national and provincial governments adopt policies that guarantee the sustainability of the sector. The problem lies not only in the spread of exotic species, but also in the overpopulation of guanacos, a native species that, far from being in danger of extinction, has grown to levels that put the viability of sheep production at risk. The Patagonian region, which represents 25% of Argentine territory and houses 55% of the country's sheep stock, has seen a 32% reduction in its sheep production in the last 20 years, going from 10 million to less than 7 million specimens. The prolonged droughts have forced producers to reduce the animal load on their fields, but they have not been able to control the increase in guanacos or the increase in predators such as foxes and pumas, which attack sheep more frequently. ...