Uruguay | Lavalleja | Conversations with employees | Blood farms for hormone production
Today we talk to a woman who works as a housekeeper at the estancia “Sarandí” of Roberto Mailhos in the Departamento Lavalleja. Her name is Valeria Cuello (name changed). Her son Leonardo (name changed) also worked there until 10 October 2016. Valeria says that Mailhos rents a lot of land for his mares in this area, but at the moment they are all at the estancia “Sarandí”. Leonardo explains that they are covered at “Sarandí” but the blood extraction is carried out at the estancia “La Paloma” in San José. He says that the mares have been covered recently. An ultrasound examination is done after 30 days. Leonardo remembers that last year, the mares were picked up at “Sarandí” in November and loaded onto five or six trucks, all on the same day. About 50 mares were loaded per truck. Before transportation, the mares that were not pregnant were separated from the herd and stayed at “Sarandí” to be covered again.
Later, we talk to a man who worked for Mailhos last year. His name is José Blanco (name changed). José explains that Mailhos has 3.000 mares in total, but at the estancia “La Paloma” in San José there is not enough space for all these horses. That is why he rents land all over Uruguay. Last year, José was in charge of 800 mares that were brought from “La Paloma” to a pasture in the Departamento Florida to recover after the blood extraction. 20 of these mares died. He further explains that after the recovery the blood is analysed, and if a mare is no longer fit she is rejected (what probably means sent to slaughter). José confirms that in October, the mares are covered at the estancia “Sarandí” and in November they are brought to “La Paloma” for blood collection.
Später sprechen wir mit einem Mann, der im vergangenen Jahr für Mailhos gearbeitet hat. Er heisst José Blanco (Name geändert). José erklärt, dass Mailhos über 3000 Stuten insgesamt hat, aber auf dem Landgut „La Paloma” in San José sei nicht genügend Platz für all diese Pferde. Deswegen würde er in ganz Uruguay Weideland pachten. Im vergangenen Jahr war José für 800 Stuten zuständig, die nach der Blutentnahme von „La Paloma” auf Weideland im Regierungsbezirk Florida zur Erholung gebracht wurden. Zwanzig dieser Stuten seien gestorben. Er erklärt ausserdem, dass nach der Erholung das Blut analysiert werde, und wenn eine Stute nicht länger geeignet sei, sie ausgesondert werde (damit ist wohl gemeint, dass sie zum Schlachthof kommt). José bestätigt, dass die Stuten im Oktober auf „Sarandí” gedeckt werden und im November zur Blutentnahme nach „La Paloma” transportiert werden.