European beef cattle farming is much more than just an economic sector: we are the guarantee of a future for our rural areas.
Beef cattle farming is not only an essential production model, but also a fundamental pillar for the economic and social sustainability of rural areas in Europe.
In the case of Spain, where 84% of the territory is rural and faces serious challenges such as depopulation and a lack of generational renewal, beef cattle production is particularly important. Thus, the beef cattle sector generates stable employment and boosts the local economy, where livestock farming is often the only significant source of income in small rural communities. Thanks to this activity, we keep traditional culture alive and promote the conservation of natural heritage, key elements in retaining the population and attracting young people interested in continuing this way of life.
Due to our climate, beef cattle farming in Spain combines extensive production with feedlot fattening, which currently represents, thanks to the enormous effort we make in the sector, a balanced, resilient and sustainable solution adapted to the idiosyncrasies of the territory and the rural environment.
Thus, extensive grazing today is based primarily on rotational and regenerative grazing practices, which protect and restore landscapes, prevent forest fires by reducing combustible plant material, promote biodiversity, and improve soil quality. On the other hand, feedlots optimise resource efficiency under conditions that guarantee animal welfare and offer precise management that minimises environmental impacts.
This mixed model provides essential ecosystem benefits, as extensive livestock farming promotes the maintenance of natural habitats and contributes significantly to atmospheric carbon capture, thereby reducing our ecological footprint, which, with everyone’s efforts, we are managing to reduce, as demonstrated by the latest measurements. For its part, the final phase of intensive fattening in technified feedlots can also contribute to reducing its environmental impact thanks to the implementation of various improvements in the process, ranging from genetic selection and animal welfare to the use of feed additives, manure management, and the use of alternative energy sources.
Supporting and promoting this activity is key to ensuring the future of our rural areas, maintaining their economic and social vitality, and actively promoting environmental conservation.
European beef cattle farming is much more than just an economic sector: we are the guarantee of a future for our rural areas.
