A Herd That Has Grown Up With the Estancia
Our herd of Aberdeen Angus has been part of the estancia since the Begg family first settled here. In the early days the cattle were bred mainly for the family and the farm. Today the herd is much larger and part of a commercial operation, but it's still at the heart of life on the estancia. The cows and their calves are a familiar sight on rides across the farm, grazing the open hills and valleys.
Breeding Cattle That Thrive in the Sierras Chicas
Life in the hills asks a lot of a cow. Winters are dry, the grass is poorer, and the herd covers steep, rocky ground. So every year we work on developing the bloodlines further, choosing animals that calve easily and thrive on the winter grass. We've also brought in bloodlines that go directly back to Scotland and some of the original Angus cattle, a link to the breed's roots we're very proud of. Alongside this, we've been bringing back traditional ways of working that have long been part of estancia life in Argentina.
Round-Up Time: Preparing for the Annual Cattle Sales
Each year the herd is rounded up from the surrounding hills and valleys ahead of the annual cattle sales, and the job of separating the animals begins. Every animal is vaccinated and thoroughly checked before sale. Despite the clouds of dust that surround the corrals, the gauchos sort the herd with remarkable skill, reading each animal and moving it calmly to where it needs to go.
Riding With the Herd: How Guests Can Join In
Guests are welcome to ride out with the gauchos when they're working the cattle, whether that's helping bring the herd down from the hills or watching the sorting in the corrals. It's a rare chance to see a working estancia up close. And once the work is done, gauchos, guests, guides and neighbours sit down together for an asado at a long trestle table, ready for another day.
