Te Mania Angus was a major stop-off for a group of 18 Brazilian farmers and farm advisers touring Australia and New Zealand earlier this month.
Tour organiser and retired stud breeder, New Zealand-based Arthur Blakely, says the tours are set up in Brazil by two of its premier farming organisations – Senar and Sebrae who are active in promoting education and extension amongst their farmer members.
“This tour started in New Zealand, visiting properties in both the North and South Islands before heading to Victoria,” Arthur says.
“The participants produce reports on each property visited and these are then collated into a book when they return to Brazil,” he says.
“Copies of the book are then circulated amongst other Senar and Sebrae members giving them an overview of what they learnt from the tour.”
In Victoria the tour started at Te Mania Angus but also took in visits to Yarram Park, Lawsons Angus, a lamb fattening enterprise, a dairy operation in the north of the state and an export hay business.
Arthur says the idea is to get an overall picture of agriculture in Australasia and then spread the word when they get back home. Normally the groups organise two tours a year, the most recent being one in November last year.
“They all feel privileged to be given such an close look behind the scenes in some very interesting properties,” Arthur added.
“This tour was a real success and the group, which involved beef and sheep producers, as well as agronomists and vets, will have plenty for their book.”
Te Mania Angus director Tom Gubbins says he was delighted to host the tour.
“We have a lot of international groups, big and small, come through and while we know we have plenty to show them it is often just as valuable for us to get an insight into what is happening on their farms and in their countries,” Tom says.
“And that’s something we are also able to pass onto others in the industry here,” he added.
Arthur Blakely is now planning a trip to South America in June next year and is looking for expressions of interest from any Australian and New Zealand farmers. He can be contacted on 0011 64 2728 02912.
