El Castillo – Breeding beef cattle at the crossroads of Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina
Strategic location - El Castillo is a 2,000-hectare property we have operated since 2017 in Salto, northwestern Uruguay. Situated along National Road 3, the farm sits at the crossroads of Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
Transition to regenerative agriculture - Previously leased to an independent cattle rancher who practised traditional extensive grazing, El Castillo is now home to a sophisticated regenerative beef cattle breeding operation we built from the ground up.
A grassland pure-play - El Castillo is one of two properties in our portfolio dedicated solely to cattle grazing, with no crop production. Our cattle are raised exclusively on natural grasslands, benefiting from the region’s abundant sunshine, grass, and water. We thus produce nutrient-rich beef without relying on pasture seeds, fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, or heavy machinery. This approach has allowed us to more than double the stocking rate compared to the previous tenant while enhancing soil health, improving water retention, increasing carbon sequestration, reducing erosion, and fostering biodiversity and wildlife.
Integrated land use - El Castillo features a 346-hectare forestry operation in partnership with Forestal Oriental (UPM) in addition to livestock.
Looking ahead - As we refine and scale our regenerative practices, El Castillo will serve as a benchmark for regenerative grazing on natural grasslands, demonstrating how innovative grazing systems can profitably produce premium-quality beef while creating resilient ecosystems.
