The University of Missouri hosted a group of Brazilian cattle producers, consultants, veterinarians and professors this summer as part of the BeefLeader Experience.

The BeefLeader Experience is an immersive educational program designed for beef producers and industry professionals from Brazil. Fifteen participants came to Missouri for this year’s program, representing consulting services that collectively influence management decisions for more than 2 million head of beef cattle.

The program was organized by Thiago Martins — state extension beef reproduction specialist and assistant professor in the Division of Animal Sciences — in partnership with Brazilian beef consultants Rogério F. G. Peres and Jacqueline Lubaski.

Drawn by the United States’ reputation as a global leader in beef production efficiency, technology development and scientific innovation, participants gained a comprehensive overview of the U.S. beef industry through site visits and presentations by MU faculty and industry leaders.

Participants visited cow-calf, seedstock, feedlot and packing operations in the state, and finished the trip with a visit to the Joplin Regional Stockyards during a Monday sale.

Looking ahead, Martins hopes to expand the BeefLeader Experience to include visits to Brazil by U.S. beef producers and industry professionals. As a native Brazilian, Martins believes that understanding different production systems fosters innovation, broadens perspectives and strengthens the competitiveness of the U.S. beef industry in an increasingly interconnected global market.