Biography:
Carolina Arantes is a Brazilian documentary photographer, naturalized French and working internationally. Carolina has received several important photographic grants and awards (such as Firecracker and the Jean-Luc Lagardère Foundation...
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Female calf enters an auction during ExpoZebu Cattle Fair. By that time, the animal was sold for almost US$ 1 million dollars. A price that indicates the importance of its genetic material in the business. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys sing the national hymn in a private luxury cattle auction opening during ExpoZebu Cattle Fair. Nationalism and conservatism are common parts of the farmers' community beliefs in Brazil Uberaba, Brazil, 2013.
Auction crier during a private luxury cattle auction organized during the Expozebu. Animals can be sold for around U$ 1 million or more. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013.
Mr. Pimenta da Veiga, ex-former Minister of Communications during the ex-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso government, visited the headquarters of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Cattle Breeders on the eve of the presidential elections of 2014. Mr. Pimenta da Veiga was working in a lobby for the candidate Aécio Neves who had, later, lost the elections and was taken out of politics for being linked to serious corruption investigations. Both politicians are part of the right-wing party, PSDB, and have a long and historical relationship with the cattle farmers of the region. Uberaba, Brazil, 2014
A calf is presented for sale at the private auction "Joias da Raça" (The Jews of the Race) organized by the farm Nova Trindade during the ExpoZebu Cattle Fair. The animal was sold for US$ 1 million dollars. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
A wall with natural-size images of the ancient Presidents of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders, ABCZ. The Association is a traditional private institution that reunites zebu cattle breeders from all over the country and has had an important political participation since its foundation. Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders, Uberaba, Brazil, 2014 Uberaba Brazil
Farmers and ranchers meeting at Parque Fernando Costa during the Expozebu cattle fair. Parque Fernando Costa is a big area in town where the Brazilian Association of Cattle Breeders has its headquarters; it contains a huge area for cattle exhibitions and meetings. Uberaba, Brazil, 2014
A cattle judge observes the animals from its post at the Judgement Square. For the judgment, many points and characteristics of the animal are checked before it is able to receive the prize. Docility, height, low back structure, leg harmony, grooming, and equal distance between eyes, among other points, are on the list of crucial characteristics animals have to have to win a prize. The animals chosen as the best ones in this fair are taken as a model for reproduction and breeding, moving after big changes in genetic material sales. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Men working at Expozebu, the biggest Zebu cattle fair in the world.
The cattle, the meat, and the genetic material business form together one of the stronger commerces in Brazil moving millions of dollars and being responsible for an important income to the country's economy which is actually much based in agribusiness exportations.
Cowboys holding animals for judgment at the Judgement Square.
Many points and characteristics of the animal are checked before it is able to receive the prize. Docility, height, low back structure, leg harmony, grooming, and equal distance between eyes, among other 30 points, are on the list of crucial characteristics animals have to have to win a prize. The animals chosen as the best ones in this fair are taken as a model for reproduction and breeding, moving after big changes in its genetic material sales. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys celebrating a judgment at the Judgement Square.
Many points and characteristics of the animal are checked before it is able to receive the prize. Docility, height, low back structure, leg harmony, grooming, and equal distance between eyes, among other 30 points, are on the list of crucial characteristics animals have to have to win a prize. The animals chosen as the best ones in this fair are taken as a model for reproduction and breeding, moving after big changes in genetic material sales. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
A cowboy pulls a bull in the judgment square during the Expozebu Fair.
Many points and characteristics of the animal are checked before it is able to receive the prize. Docility, height, low back structure, leg harmony, grooming, and equal distance between eyes, among other 30 points, are on the list of crucial characteristics animals have to have to win a prize. The animals chosen as the best ones in this fair are taken as a model for reproduction and breeding, moving after big changes in genetic material sales. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys washing animals during the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys washing animals during the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys washing animals during the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Cowboys washing animals during the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Belonging to the family group Rodrigues da Cunha, this farm has about 30 thousand animals.
Brazil has today a herd of 234 million head of cattle, which means more than one animal per person. In 2019, with the arrival of China among the Brazilian beef-consuming countries, farmers have often lacked sufficient herd for slaughter. The main intention among farmers community is to double the production, and consequently the number of animals, in the coming years.Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
Cowboys washing animals during the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
A laboratory collector collecting semen at ABS PecPlan, a leading international laboratory of bovine genetics. Genetic materials are an important part of the meat industry, not only for the value of breeding and race development but also for being a product and moving commerce whose sales are an important source of income for farmers. Uberaba, Brazil, 2015
A bull being washed before being sent to a cattle exhibition.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
A bull being washed before being sent to a cattle exhibition.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
Jabriel was the most prized bull of the Nelore breed back in 2017. The bull was valued at almost US$ 800 thousand in 2016 and has been the most important bull in semen sales in the country. After the genetic laboratory where the animal lives, Alta Genetics, Jabriel may be the father of more than 600 thousand animals in the country. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2017
In a microscope, ovules that have just arrived in the Bioembryo laboratory, in Cuiaba, after being aspirated from cows on a farm. Each drop belongs to a different cow and the tiny white dots in the drops are the ovules ready for the insemination.
The choice is a result of the farmer's previous calculation to define the pairs of cows and bull crossings. Breedings like these are intentionally made with some objectives in mind, among them animals that will be physically adapted to global warming and extreme weather conditions. The earlier maturation of the animal is also an important search when breeding, as animals can be sent younger to slaughterhouses. Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2017
At Genial Cloning Laboratory, the hairs of animals' tails arrive by letter from the post office. The genetic material for cloning is taken from the best hair bulb, specially selected for the scientific process. Uberaba, Brazil, 2017.
At Genial Cloning Laboratory, the genetic material is taken from the animal hair bulb; This one, once set in a high-velocity centrifuge, will separate the genetic material to be cloned from other unnecessary components of the cell. Uberaba, Brazil, 2017
Two cloned calves, with only a few months of life, lay down in the corral of Geneal Laboratory farm.
Geneal is one of the most important laboratories of bovine cloning in Brazil, giving birth to around 70 cloned animals per year.
Bovine animals are cloned as an assurance to maintain their considerable level of genetic development and whose reproductive material is an important product sale in the country. When choosing a genetic material from an animal to buy, farmers are not informed by the laboratory if the material purchased is from the original animal or its clone. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2017.
Doctors doing a cesarean surgery to give birth to a cloned calf at Geneal Laboratory farm.
Surrogate cows don't have hormones to spell the calf naturally, as the clone cells lack genetic connections whose information allows the cows to recognize they are pregnant. Milk is not produced by the surrogate cow and the calf will be fed with artificial supplements.
Geneal is one of the most important laboratories of bovine cloning in Brazil, giving birth to around 70 cloned animals per year. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2017
A newborn cloned calf has an infrared light bath on the manger.
As the surrogate cows don't have hormones to spell the calf naturally, cloned cells lack genetic connections whose information allows the cows to recognize they are pregnant. Milk is not produced neither is the maternal needs of the surrogate cow. The calf will be fed with artificial supplements to supply the need for immunology and strength, as infrared lights are used to reinforce this system in the recently born animal. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2017
As surrogate cows don't have hormones to spell the calf naturally, cloned animals are born from cesarian surgery.
Cloned cells lack genetic connections whose information allows the cows to recognize they are pregnant. Milk is not produced neither is the maternal needs of the surrogate cow. The calf will be fed with artificial supplements to supply the need for immunology and strength, as infrared lights are used to reinforce this system in the recently born animal.
Cowboys cleaning animals exhibition halls at the Expozebu cattle fair.
These luxury animals, specially selected for the fair according to their genetic quality, have their toilet and cleanings made every day during all fifteen days of the fair. Uberaba, Brazil, 2013
The BioEmbrio veterinarian arrives at the corral for the harvesting of eggs from selected cows for artificial insemination. This material will be sent to the specialized laboratory in the closest city, where it will receive the dose of sperm from the bull intentionally pre-selected by the farmer.
The BioEmbrio veterinarian applies anesthesia to a cow to harvests eggs for artificial insemination. This material will be sent to the specialized laboratory in the closest city, where it will receive the dose of sperm from the bull intentionally pre-selected by the farmer. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
In the corral of one of the Rodrigues da Cunha family farms, a veterinarian at the Bioembrio genetics laboratory puts on his gloves to begin the process of artificial insemination and checking the eggs for artificial insemination. This material will be sent to the specialized laboratory in the closest city, where it will receive the dose of sperm from the bull intentionally pre-selected by the farmer. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
The BioEmbrio laboratory veterinarian makes an ultrasonic on a cow before harvesting eggs for artificial insemination. Once collected, the material will be sent to the specialized laboratory in the closest city, where it will receive the dose of sperm from the bull intentionally pre-selected by the farmer. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
The BioEmbrio laboratory veterinarian makes an ultrasonic on a cow before harvesting eggs for artificial insemination. Once collected, the material will be sent to the specialized laboratory in the closest city, where it will receive the dose of sperm from the bull intentionally pre-selected by the farmer. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
Bovine IUDs are taken out from cows before being given hormones to force ovulations and undergo artificial insemination.Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
Cowboys remove the IUDs and apply hormones to the cows to force ovulations and undergo artificial insemination.Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015.
Animals in the corral are to be conferred and registered just before entering the truck on the way to the slaughterhouse. Pontes e Lacerda, Brazil, 2015
A bull jumps the fence, trying to escape the truck entrance that led to the slaughterer.
Brazil is the biggest red meat seller in the world, being one in four steaks eaten internationally from Brazilian origin. The intention of the rural lobby is to double these numbers until 2025. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015
Animals already slaughtered and approved by the Agriculture Ministry are prepared to be sliced, packed, and exported.
In this chiller of Marfrig, 1,500 animals are slaughtered daily in the halal tradition. Brazil exports 350 thousands of tonnes of Halal meat per year. Marfrig is one of the three biggest Slaughterhouses in Brazil. Bataguaçu, Brazil, 2015
Rodrigo Rodrigues da Cunha, 27 years old, the young financial manager of his familiar agro-business company, visited a 38 thousand acres farm in Mato Grosso recently acquired by the group. With three generations running the cattle businesses in the country, the Rodrigues da Cunha family is one of the most traditional Brazilian livestock farm workers in the country and one of the first to bring cattle from India at the beginning of the 20th century. During the 70's his grandfather, Antonio Ronaldo, went to Mato Gross region to deforestate and create farms where it used to be a dense forest. Today, the family business owns 11 farms all over the country. Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015
One of the members of the Rodrigues da Cunha family walks with his rifle towards the family's private plane, which will take them to visit another property the group owns in the state of Mato Grosso. The distances are long between the farms and the various properties of the group, which shares more than 11 farms with an average of 40,000 animals on each. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2017
Antonio Vieira Caetano met a colleague from the Army at a car shop in Maraba.
Mr Nénem - Mr. Baby, as he is called in the region - cries "Selva!" (a community shout from the army of the Amazonian region, which means "jungle"). Ancien President of Farmers' Union of Maraba, Mr. Nenem arrived in Para in the 70s, coming from Goias after the dictator government called on the population to occupy the Amazonian forest against illuded communist threats.
Mr. Néném worked first as a cattle cowboy and as a wood logger until made his money out of a sawmill wood shop in Maraba. When the shop was closed due to the new legislation on illegal wood commerce, Mr. Neném started as a farmer, raising cattle and fattening veals for the meat industry. Maraba, Brazil, 2019.
Antonio Vieira Caetano, known as Mr Néném (Mr. Baby) proudly shows a picture of his intervention at one of the last political meetings of the Amazonian Rural Lobby with the extreme right-wing before the presidential election of their candidate, Jair Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro has dedicated a great part of his administration to farmers and cattle ranchers, publicly incentivizing the farmers to deforestation in the Amazonian forest and occupations in the Indigenous protected regions. During the Bolsonaro government, cattle ranchers were openly defending the end of Indigineuos protections and deforestation has been stronger since ever.
In the Amazonian region, 60% of the farms are still illegal, working without environmental control and not paying taxes since the 70s, when the dictatorship invited the population to occupy that region without creating any document control of the occupied areas. Farmer are still raising the size of their lands through deforestation over protected areas. Maraba, Brazil, 2019.
A dining room at Mr. Mario Franco's farm, one of the most traditional cattle breeders in the country.
Mr Mario Franco, whose name noums the airport of the city, was one of the first farmers to bring cattle from India. A very social and political man whose farm was frequented by international and national personalities, such as Mr. Bush (father), Margaret Thatcher, and many Brazilian politicians. One of their very well-known guest was the right-ring politician, Aécio Neves. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2014
Mr Antonio Ronaldo Rodrigues da Cunha, 95 years old, cattle breeder and one of the pioneers of livestock farming in the State of Mato Grosso. Mr Antonio was one of the first breeders in the region, which is today the second largest producer of cattle and the first of grains in the country. In the 70s, Mr Antonio deforested thousands of hectares to create his farms that are now part of his family group with 9 other farms; each with an average of 30 thousand beef animals. Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2019
Jackeline Arruda, 37, at her house in a wealthy condominium in Maraba. Daughter and wife of cattle breeders in the Amazonian region, Jackeline also works with her father in the family business. Wealthy condominiums are being constructed all over Maraba, as rich farmers of the region are transforming the region into an urban developed area. Maraba, Para, 2019
Weslayne and her husband Yago, dancing at the opening of their wedding party. Yago is a farmer, working with his father in a familiar business of fatting veals for the meat industry. Maraba Para, Brazil 2019
In this condominium of luxury houses, almost all new residents are livestock farmers in the region. Open only a few years ago, the area has already more than 60 houses, with swimming pools, a leisure area, a gazebo, security, and other amenities for the wealthy families of ranchers. Empty lands are being sold very quickly in a lucrative industry of the city where cattle raising is one of the biggest economic activities. Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
Joao Guimaraes and his family at their farm in Para.
Joao is one of the largest beef cattle producers in the Amazon region and is happily adapting his production to supply meat to the Chinese market. For this, he will need to double his production in the next ten years. The construction of a hangar is already part of this growth forecast. Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
farmers reunited in their Christian weekly meeting for praying and reading the bible. Most farmers in the country are Catholic and practice the religion in a conservative way. Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
Jackeline Arruda, her brother Helio, his wife, and farmers reunited in their Christian weekly meeting for praying and reading the bible. Most farmers in the country are Catholic and practice the religion in a conservative way. Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
Cattle food is composed of several different types of grains such as cotton, sorghum, corn, and mineral salts, which form the alimentary complements for animals whose meat goes for export. The largest farms in this trade produce their own livestock food, being transformed into big agriculture producers for feeding the animals. Not only great areas are needed to produce the grains, but their production also needs a large percentage of water; as does the cattle. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2017
Max Queiroz and Tulio, commercial auctioneers, selling at the virtual auction Estancia Bahia, where animals are sold live on television to buyers from all over Brazil. Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil 2017
Cowboys feed a lot of animals in the paddock. Cattle food is composed of several different types of grains such as cotton, sorghum, corn, and mineral salts, which form the alimentary complements for animals whose meat goes for export. The largest farms in this trade produce their own livestock food, being transformed into big agriculture producers too to cover the great need of feeding the animals. Not only great areas are needed to produce the grains, but their production also needs a large percentage of water; as does the cattle. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2017
Cattle feedlot with 30 thousand animals. The confinement of cattle has been growing in the country as a complementary step to the traditional way of raising animals in grass Brazil. In the country, the tax of animal occupation is of 1animal / hectare alone, which demands a huge amount of land. To grass animals before sending them to slaughterhouses, many farmers use to confine them for a few weeks. It is estimated that this tendency will grow during the next years. Young traditional breeders try to change the way cattle are raised, choosing genetics, grass improvements, and feedlot fattening to supply the entry of China in the list of Brazilian meat buyers. These breeders are betting on these methods to sell better and faster, increasing the production and number of animals. Pontes e Lacerda, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2015
Joao Guimaraes, one of the largest beef cattle producers in the Amazon region, observes the construction of a confinement structure specially built to adapt his production to the Chinese market. In 2019, Joao started selling his animals for China beef consumption, and, to provide meat to this country, he will need to double his production in the next ten years. The construction of this hangar is already part of this growth forecast. Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
Joao Guimaraes, one of the largest beef cattle producers in the Amazon region, observes the construction of a confinement structure specially built to adapt his production to the Chinese market. In 2019, Joao started selling his animals for China beef consumption, and, to provide meat to this country, he will need to double his production in the next ten years. The construction of this hangar is already part of this growth forecast.Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
At Joao Guimaraes' farm, one of the largest beef cattle producers in the Amazon region, workers prepare material to construct a confinement structure specially built to adapt the farm production to the Chinese market. In 2019, Joao started selling his animals for China beef consumption, and, to provide meat to this country, he will need to double his production in the next ten years. The construction of this hangar is already part of this growth forecast.Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
At Joao Guimaraes' farm, one of the largest beef cattle producers in the Amazon region, workers prepare material to construct a confinement structure specially built to adapt the farm production to the Chinese market. In 2019, Joao started selling his animals for China beef consumption, and, to provide meat to this country, he will need to double his production in the next ten years. The construction of this hangar is already part of this growth forecast.Maraba, Para, Brazil, 2019
Paula Guimaraes and her sleeping child on their private plane, while her husband, the farmer Joao Guimaraes, drives the plane. Flying over Para State, Paula observes the spots of fires set in forests. In this year of 2019, a great number of fires were set by farmers to clean illegal and deforested areas for cattle breeding.
Although many farmers were against these illegal practices, there was no movement openly declared to denounce it. Para, Brazil, 2019
Area view of the rural area around south Maraba, in Para, a region known for its latifundium farms and the biggest one in cattle raising for meat. In the background three points of fire burn areas of environmental preservation. A recurring scene in the region, during each drought season, fires are illegally set to clean large agricultural areas and deforestation. In 2019 it was a particular year as farmers deliberately set fire to the request for legalizing the illegal occupation of environmentally protected areas. Para, Brazil, 2019
Aerial view of a 739-hectare field of illegally burned Amazon forest. This area of the forest is part of the TI Cachoeira Seca, an Indigenous protected reserve that belongs to the Arara people. To deforest such an area, 20 people and 6 chainsaws work on-site at R$1000 reais per bushel for 2 months of work.
This illegal work was commissioned by Preto and Wagsmar Carneiro and two other farmers who planned to share the land for raising cattle.
An airplane runway was ready to sow the pasture seeds before the rainy weather arrival.
A fine of a million two hundred thousand reais is what justice demands for this type of crime, but in the region, cases like this, have ended up paying the sum of 5000 reais in 5 plots of 1000. Among the farmers responsible for the deforestation of this area, is a local deputy. Altamira, Para, Brazil, 2019
739-hectare field of illegally burned Amazon forest. This area of the forest is part of the TI Cachoeira Seca, an Indigenous protected reserve that belongs to the Arara people. To deforest such an area, 20 people and 6 chainsaws work on-site at R$1000 reais per bushel for 2 months of work.
This illegal work was commissioned by Preto and Wagsmar Carneiro and two other farmers who planned to share the land for raising cattle.
An airplane runway was ready to sow the pasture seeds before the rainy weather arrival.
A fine of a million two hundred thousand reais is what justice demands for this type of crime, but in the region, cases like this, have ended up paying the sum of 5000 reais in 5 plots of 1000. Among the farmers responsible for the deforestation of this area, is a local deputy. Altamira, Para, Brazil, 2019
Aerial view of the Cuiaba river that, with its almost 1000 km of extension crosses the capital of Mato Grosso State (of the same name) and connects the region with the south center of the country. After the official statistics of Brazilian Government, Mato Grosso has 40% of its land occupied by extensive beef cattle and is the largest region in soy production of the country. Over Cuiaba river, Mato Grosso, Brazil, 2017