Livestock trajectories in Argentina and Brazil: a historical and comparative analysis of the effects of state policies in the last two centuries

Abstract

In the last 200 years, Argentina and Brazil have divided their importance in the global production and marketing of beef. At first, for almost a century, the possession of such power was in the hands of the argentines, who used very well the characteristics of the Pampean lands to multiply their herds. Over the last 60 years, however, surprisingly, Brazil has taken on this task and has become the holder of the largest commercial herd in the world and the largest exporter of beef on the planet. In this study, through a historical-comparative analysis, we sought to analyze the state's participation in the growth of the livestock, in each of the two countries, during this period. In order to do so, the time was divided into subperiods, which were called 'cases' and comparison parameters were created through a gradation indicative of the impact caused by governmental policies and actions on the growth of the herds. Secondary and documentary sources were used to collect historical data. The results showed that, in Argentina and in Brazil, direct or indirect state participation was determinant to influence the growth of the herds and the consequent participation of bovine agribusiness in the trade balance of the two countries.