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Kansas, New Mexico ag officials travel to Mexico for beef genetics trade mission

A beef genetics trade mission to the Sonora region of Mexico highlighted how Brangus cattle withstand harsh drought conditions of the region.

Tessa Beeman is an agribusiness coordinator with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

“Since it is a lot hotter down there, the Brahman influence for the heat tolerance is a big key of the cattle they raise. They like to have that,” she says.

She tells Brownfield grazing conditions look very different.

“There was not much grass and they said that they don’t supplement them with very much forage, so the cattle were in really great condition from what we saw,” she says.

KDA Assistant Secretary Josh McGinn tells says drought conditions have been more extreme in that region, compared to the U.S.

“I kind of sensed that there was some desire to see what happens in the industry in the near future and with those drought conditions before they decide to make some changes to their herd size,” he says.

He says most of Mexico’s cattle are brought to the U.S. to be finished.

The trip brought together the Kansas and New Mexico Departments of Agriculture as well as the International Brangus Breeders Association.

PHOTO: The Kansas Department of Agriculture participated in a beef genetics trade mission to Sonora, Mexico, in November 2024, including a visit to the Sierra Angus Ranch near Hermosillo (Courtesy Heather Lansdowne).

AUDIO: Tessa Beeman and Josh McGinn, Kansas Department of Agriculture