About Uruguay

Uruguay is located in the south of the Americas bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean and the estuary of the River Plate. Uruguay has a total area of 18.5 million ha, 85% of which can be considered as productive and it is used predominantly for agriculture and livestock grazing production. The climate is temperate, with average temperatures of 12ºC in winter and 24ºC in summer, and an average of 30 frosts per year. Annual average rainfall values range from 1100 to 1300 mm but with significant variations within and between years. Therefore, periods of droughts are not uncommon. Despite the uniformity of climate throughout the country, the great diversity of soil types determines the types of native pastures (75% of the total area) with a predominance of perennial summer species and very few native legumes constitutes the basis for wool and meat production.

The ecosystem is mainly composed of natural rolling pastures and low hills that allow the grazing of sheep and cattle all year round. Although sheep are run in all parts of the country, the flocks are mostly concentrated in less productive zones with greater proportion of shallow soils or hilly landscape, such as the basaltic area in the north and the hills in the eastern parts of Uruguay.

The sheep population was 6.33 million in 2020, while the beef cattle population was 11.88 million. On a national basis, on average, livestock numbers (sheep and cattle) represent an average stocking rate of 0,80 livestock units per grazing ha (being 1 livestock unit = 1 cow = 6,67 ewes).

Sheep industry

The sheep industry pipeline in Uruguay offers to the entire world a wide range of high-quality natural products from their primary production processes to those demanding industrial transformation.

Animal welfare

A consumer 'megatrend' is the emergence of the 'lifestyle of health and sustainability' as a major driver of consumer disposition...

Shearing & clip preparation

The Uruguayan Wool Secretariat (SUL) has been involved in long term programs to improve shearing methods and clip preparation...

Production systems

Sheep production in Uruguay must be considered in the context of mixed livestock production systems...

Sheep breeds & wool production

With a flock of 6.33 millions, main sheep products are mainly for export to different countries over the world...

Statistics

A brief summary of the sheep and cattle stock and wool production.

Uruguayan Wool Secretariat (SUL)

SUL has as its mission to promote a sustainable development of sheep production in Uruguay and...

Wool exporters

List of current wool exporters.

Wool brokers

List of current wool brokers.

Photo gallery

Some images of our production systems, breed and wool production, and shearing and clip preparation.