The Right Path to Unlock the Full Potential of Genetics in Livestock

In many livestock projects, it’s still common to see producers start their investments with animal genetics, believing that superior bulls and cows are the key to success.

However, this logic is flawed.
Without a solid foundation — built on quality water, animal health, well-managed pastures, and balanced supplementation — genetic potential simply cannot be expressed.

SGM Seeds, a member of the Raça Agro Group, reinforces this principle through the Raça Tec Cycle for Productivity, a technical framework that defines the correct order of priorities in any livestock system.

The Raça Tec Cycle: Four Fundamental Priorities for Efficient Livestock Production

1. Water and infrastructure — the foundation of everything

No livestock system is sustainable without abundant, high-quality water.
Troughs, shade, fences, and handling facilities must be the first items planned.
Without them, there is no animal performance, no matter how good the genetics may be.

2. Animal health — the second pillar

An efficient health protocol is essential for livestock vitality and productivity.
Vaccination, parasite control, animal welfare, and veterinary supervision are indispensable to ensure strong, healthy herds.

3. Well-formed and well-managed pastures — the main source of feed

Pasture is the foundation of livestock feeding.
Investing in high-quality seeds, proper paddock formation, fertilization, and rotational management ensures abundant, nutritious forage.
Without a solid forage base, no system can be profitable.

4. Strategic supplementation — the fine adjustment

Supplementation should be used strategically and technically, only to correct seasonal or nutritional deficiencies.
The herd’s diet should always be based on well-managed pastures, not on concentrates or grain-based feeds.

Genetics as the crown of the system

Only after consolidating these four priorities does it make sense to invest in superior genetics.
Otherwise, even the best genetic material on the market will fail to deliver satisfactory results.

Genetics must be viewed as the crowning achievement of a solid system, not as a shortcut to fix structural problems.

The most common mistake among producers is starting from the end.
The true path to livestock success requires discipline and technical vision: structure first, genetics later.

At SGM Seeds, this principle is part of our mission — because genetics can only reach its full potential when it finds an environment ready to support it.