Thirty seconds to sold

Argentina’s largest cattle market can sell upwards of 10,000 head an hour

Melisa Goss
Mar 4, 2025
Mar 4, 2025

Argentina salebarn 1.jpg — A load of cattle sit just outside Mercado Agroganadero de Cañuelas, Argentina’s largest and most important cattle market.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

Melisa Goss

The gaucho, an Argentine cowboy, rang a bell.

kAm~G6C] p?5 @G6C] p?5 @G6C]k^Am

kAm%96 36== C2?8 7@C 2 D@=:5 `_ >:?FE6D[ 2=6CE:?8 3FJ6CD E96 42EE=6 D2=6 H2D 23@FE E@ DE2CE]k^Am

kAmx? E96 962CE @7 pC86?E:?2’D =:G6DE@4< :?5FDECJ =:6D E96 |6C425@ p8C@82?256C@ 56 r2ñF6=2D W|pvX[ E96 $@FE9 p>6C:42? 4@F?ECJ’D =2C86DE 2?5 >@DE D:8?:7:42?E 42EE=6 EC25:?8 9F3]k^Am

kAm%9:D >2C<6EA=246[ =@42E65 :? r2ñF6=2D[ qF6?@D p:C6D !C@G:?46[ :D H96C6 42EE=6 AC:46D 7@C E96 6?E:C6 4@F?ECJ 2C6 D6E] (9:=6 42EE=6 2C6 3@F89E 2?5 D@=5[ E96 >2C<6E’D 52J\E@\52J 7F?4E:@?D 2C6 BF:E6 5:776C6?E 7C@> :ED p>6C:42? 4@F?E6CA2CED]k^Am

kAm#2E96C E92? A@E6?E:2= 3FJ6CD 2?5 D6==6CD D:EE:?8 2C@F?5 @?6 46?EC2= C:?8[ E96J :?DE625 8C@FA E@86E96C 2?5 7@==@H E96 2F4E:@?66C 7C@> A6? E@ A6?[ =@@<:?8 5@H? @? E96 42EE=6 7C@> 42EH2=<D 9:89 23@G6]k^Am

Argentina salebarn 4.jpg — Cattle wait in pens outside Mercado Agroganadero de Cañuelas.
Submitted photo

kAmv2F49@D C:56 E96 4@?4C6E6 2:D=6D 36EH66? A6?D @? E96:C @H? 9@CD6D[ E9@F89 E96 9@CD6D DE2J 2E 2 DE23=6 2E E96 724:=:EJ :? 2? 677@CE E@ C65F46 5:D62D6 EC2?D>:DD:@?] %96:C D255=6D 2C6 >@C6 3=2?<6ED E92? 7:C> =62E96C[ 2?5 :?DE625 @7 3@@ED[ E96J H62C D>2== 42?G2D D9@6D] $@>6 6G6? 8@ H:E9@FE DE:CCFAD]k^Am

kAm%96 36== C:?8:?8 E@ 2=6CE E96> E92E E96 D2=6 :D DE2CE:?8 :D?’E ;FDE 7@C D9@H] ~?46 E96 D2=6 DE2CED[ :E 8@6D BF:4<=J] %96 2F4E:@?66C 2?5 3FJ6CD DA6?5 ?@ >@C6 E92? b_ D64@?5D E@ 2 >:?FE6 23@G6 6249 A6? 367@C6 96 D=2>D E96 82G6= @? E96 76?46[ 564=2C6D E96> D@=5[ 2?5 >@G6D @? E@ E96 ?6IE A6?]k^Am

kAmpE E9:D C2E6 :E’D A@DD:3=6 E92E E96 >2C<6E 42? D6== FAH2C5D @7 `_[___ 42EE=6 :? ;FDE @G6C 2? 9@FC[ 2 E@FC 8F:56 E@=5 2 8C@FA @7 $@FE9 s2<@E2?D] %96 b` >6>36CD @7 $@FE9 s2<@E2 p8C:4F=EFC6 2?5 #FC2= {6256CD9:A W$sp#{X[ :?4=F5:?8 2DD:DE2?E 65:E@C |6=:D2 v@DD[ G:D:E65 |pv 5FC:?8 2 u63CF2CJ EC:A E@ pC86?E:?2]k^Am

k3=@4<BF@E6 4=2DDlQ:?DE28C2>\>65:2Q DEJ=6lQ324<8C@F?5i Ruuuj 3@C56Ci _j 3@C56C\C25:FDi bAIj 3@I\D925@Hi _ _ `AI _ C832W_[_[_[_]dX[_ `AI `_AI _ C832W_[_[_[_]`dXj >2C8:?i `AIj >2I\H:5E9i dc_AIj >:?\H:5E9i baeAIj A255:?8i _j H:5E9i 42=4W`__T \ aAIXjQ 52E2\:?DE8C>\A6C>2=:?<lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^C66=^sv?e?ve:es!^nFE>0D@FC46l:806>365U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l=@25:?8Q 52E2\:?DE8C>\G6CD:@?lQ`cQmk5:G DEJ=6lQA255:?8i `eAIjQmk5:G DEJ=6lQ5:DA=2Ji 7=6Ij 7=6I\5:C64E:@?i C@Hj 2=:8?\:E6>Di 46?E6CjQm k^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQA255:?8i `hT _jQm k^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQ5:DA=2Ji 3=@4<j 96:89Ei d_AIj >2C8:?i _ 2FE@ `aAIj H:5E9i d_AIjQm k^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQA255:?8\E@Ai gAIjQmk5:G DEJ=6lQ4@=@Ci Rbghf7_j 7@?E\72>:=Ji pC:2=[D2?D\D6C:7j 7@?E\D:K6i `cAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei dd_j =:?6\96:89Ei `gAIjQm':6H E9:D A@DE @? x?DE28C2>k^5:Gmk^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQA255:?8i `a]dT _jQm k^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQ5:DA=2Ji 7=6Ij 7=6I\5:C64E:@?i C@Hj >2C8:?\3@EE@>i `cAIj 2=:8?\:E6>Di 46?E6CjQm k^5:Gmk5:G DEJ=6lQ5:DA=2Ji 7=6Ij 7=6I\5:C64E:@?i 4@=F>?j 7=6I\8C@Hi `j ;FDE:7J\4@?E6?Ei 46?E6Cj >2C8:?\3@EE@>i acAIjQm k^5:GmkA DEJ=6lQ4@=@Ci R4h4g45j 7@?E\72>:=Ji pC:2=[D2?D\D6C:7j 7@?E\D:K6i `cAIj =:?6\96:89Ei `fAIj >2C8:?\3@EE@>i _j >2C8:?\E@Ai gAIj @G6C7=@Hi 9:556?j A255:?8i gAI _ fAIj E6IE\2=:8?i 46?E6Cj E6IE\@G6C7=@Hi 6==:AD:Dj H9:E6\DA246i ?@HC2AjQmk2 DEJ=6lQ4@=@Ci R4h4g45j 7@?E\72>:=Ji pC:2=[D2?D\D6C:7j 7@?E\D:K6i `cAIj 7@?E\DEJ=6i ?@C>2=j 7@?E\H6:89Ei ?@C>2=j =:?6\96:89Ei `fAIj E6IE\564@C2E:@?i ?@?6jQ 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:?DE28C2>]4@>^C66=^sv?e?ve:es!^nFE>0D@FC46l:806>365U2>AjFE>042>A2:8?l=@25:?8Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmp A@DE D92C65 3J |6C425@ p8C@82?256C@ Wo>6C425@28C@82?256C@Xk^2mk^Amk^5:Gmk^3=@4<BF@E6m

kAm%96 724:=:EJ 92D 2 E@E2= 42A24:EJ @7 `c[___ 42EE=6[ H:E9 2? 2G6C286 52:=J E9C@F89AFE @7 d[___ E@ `_[___ 9625]k^Am

People are also reading…

Dairy era ends in sadness
Lifelong cowboy continues team roping career at 87
Plant soybeans early, Below says
Seasonal supply squeeze drives sheep, goat prices
Research farm director welcomes next generation of ag
Fertilizer prices seasonally higher, rising globally
DSU student designs inventory software for Hadrick Ranch
The sacrifice and perseverance of a ranch woman
Rooted in dairy, driven by data
Nations race to secure enough fertilizer
2026 Farm Financial Stability loans overwhelm BND
Upside Robotics builds robots with sensors to fertilize cornfields in tiny doses
Iowa community college ag students explore Brazil
USDA forecasts 4% increase in soybean acres
Couples partner to open Sasquatch Acres farmstand

kAm~A6?65 ;FDE =6DD E92? E9C66 J62CD 28@[ |pv :D D=66<[ >@56C? 2?5 4=62?] %96 AC6G:@FD >2C<6E H2D =@42E65 :? E96 962CE @7 qF6?@D p:C6D 2?5 @A6C2E65 E96C6 7C@> :ED 4@?DECF4E:@? :? `h_` F?E:= a_aa] r@?E:?F65 FC32? 6IA2?D:@? 5C@G6 @H?6CD E@ C6=@42E6 E96 >2C<6E 23@FE 2? 9@FC 2?5 2 92=7 @FED:56 46?EC2= qF6?@D p:C6D E@ r2?F6=2D[ 2 4:EJ @7 C@F89=J c_[___]k^Am

Argentina salebarn 2 - worked.jpg — Members of South Dakota Agriculture and Rural Leadership (SDARL) class 12 walk into Mercado Agroganadero de Cañuelas, Argentina’s largest and most important cattle market.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

kAmr@G6C:?8 ;FDE @G6C fc 24C6D[ |pv :D 2? 6IA2?D:G6 724:=:EJ[ 2=E9@F89 @?=J fc 24C6D 2C6 4FCC6?E=J :? FD6 7@C 42EE=6 EC25:?8] %96 >2C<6E :D @H?65 3J cb 4@>A2?:6D[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 4@?D:8?@CD H9@ 724:=:E2E6 EC2?D24E:@?D 36EH66? AC@5F46CD 2?5 3FJ6CD] t249 4@>A2?J 92D 2? @77:46 :? E96 3F:=5:?8 ?6IE E@ E96 A6?D H:E9 H:?5@HD =@@<:?8 @FE @G6C E96 42EE=6]k^Am

kAmr2EE=6 2CC:G6 36EH66? b 2?5 e 2]>] %96J 2C6 :>>65:2E6=J H6:8965 2?5 D@CE65 :?E@ A6?D 32D65 @? 3C665[ H6:89E 2?5 @H?6CD9:A] %96 >2C<6E @A6C2E6D @? 2 A6D@\A6C\<:=@8C2> AC:4:?8 DJDE6>[ H:E9 4FCC6?E 2G6C286 AC:46D C2?8:?8 7C@> a[g__ E@ b[___ A6D@D[ 6BF:G2=6?E E@ Sa]g_ E@ Sb A6C <:=@8C2>] %9:D H@C<D @FE E@ 36 C@F89=J S`]af E@ S`]be A6C A@F?5]k^Am

kAmrFCC6?E=J[ `[___ A6D@D :D 6BF:G2=6?E E@ C@F89=J S`]k^Am

kAmr2EE=6 2C6 H6:8965 282:? 27E6C E96 D2=6[ 2?5 E96 3FJ6C A2JD 32D65 @? E9:D 7:?2= H6:89E]k^Am

Argentina salebarn 3.jpg — A small herd of Red Angus stand in a pen on a ranch outside Villa Maria, a small city in Cordoba Province, Argentina. In Argentina, Red Angus bring a higher premium than black Angus.
Tri-State Neighbor photo by Melisa Goss

kAmpF4E:@?D E2<6 A=246 %F6D52JD[ (65?6D52JD[ 2?5 uC:52JD 2?5 2C6 =:>:E65 D@=6=J E@ 42EE=6] |pv 5@6D?’E @?=J 42E6C E@ 5@>6DE:4 3667 56>2?5 3FE 2=D@ D6CG6D 2D 2 <6J 82E6H2J 7@C pC86?E:?2’D 6IA@CED]k^Am

kAmx? a_ac[ pC86?E:?2 6IA@CE65 @G6C hbd[___ >6EC:4 E@?D @7 3667[ >2C<:?8 :ED 9:896DE 6IA@CE G@=F>6 :? 2 46?EFCJ] pAAC@I:>2E6=J f_T @7 E96D6 6IA@CED H6C6 56DE:?65 7@C r9:?2[ H:E9 E96 tFC@A62? &?:@? 2?5 xDC26= 2=D@ 36:?8 D:8?:7:42?E >2C<6ED]k^Am

kAm&?E:= C646?E=J[ :E H2D :==682= E@ 6IA@CE =:G6 42EE=6 7@C E96 AFCA@D6 @7 D=2F89E6C[ 3FE pC86?E:?2VD 28C:4F=EFC6 D64C6E2CJ :DDF65 2 DE2E6>6?E u63] ae D:8?2=:?8 E96 C6G6CD2= @7 E96 A@=:4J :? @C56C E@ 36 2 3:886C 8=@32= 4@>A6E:E@C H:E9:? E96 >62E 2?5 =:G6DE@4< 492:?[ 2 u63] ae #6FE6CD 2CE:4=6 C6A@CE65]k^Am

kAm%96 52J @7 E96 $sp#{ G:D:E[ %F6D52J[ u63] `g[ E96 9:896DE AC:46 C64@C565 7@C 42EE=6 H2D S`]ce A6C A@F?5 2?5 H:E9 2 =@H @7 b` 46?ED A6C A@F?5]k^Am

kAm|pv :D 277:=:2E65 H:E9 b_[___ =:G6DE@4< 3C2?5D]k^Am

kAm{@@<:?8 29625[ A=2?D 2C6 F?56CH2J E@ 56G6=@A E96 C6>2:?:?8 2?5 25;246?E =2?5[ :?4=F5:?8 2 9@E6= 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 46?E6C]k^Am

Melisa Goss, Assistant Editor for the Tri-State Neighbor, is a South Dakota farm girl whose love of travel has allowed her to see ag’s vital impact around the world, from America’s heartland to the rice paddies of Southeast Asia and many places in between. She makes her home in Hartford with her husband, daughter and miniature schnauzer. You can reach her at mgoss@lee.net.