Pasture and grazing
Rotational grazing on native Paraguayan pasture. Low stocking density, rested paddocks, native forage mix. Paddocks rest between grazings to allow regrowth and break parasite cycles.
Our method
How we raise
The healthiest option Paraguayan law allows: 100% pasture, only mandatory vaccines, no shortcuts.
Last reviewed: April 21, 2026
Our operating rule: the healthiest option Paraguayan law allows. Every protocol below derives from that principle, nothing here is aspirational.
Feed: only pasture
100% grass, 100% of the time. No grain, silage, formulated feed, or animal byproducts, in any month, at any stage. Dry-season supplementation uses native hay from our own fields.
Vaccines, the full list
Only what SENACSA mandates: foot-and-mouth twice yearly, brucellosis RB51 in breeding females. No BVD, IBR, reproductive vaccines, or any discretionary shots. No mRNA vaccines, if ever approved, we decline unless mandatory.
Antibiotics, none routine
Zero prophylactic antibiotics. Sick animals are treated individually by a veterinarian, and permanently removed from the Tekorá program. Not a withdrawal period. Permanently.
No hormones, no chemicals
Zero growth hormones. Zero steroid implants. Zero anabolic treatments. Zero beta-agonists. Our animals gain weight at the pace pasture allows, not at an industrial schedule.
Low-stress handling
Temple Grandin's principles are our baseline. Quiet movement, curved alleys, no electric prods, trained handlers who prioritize calm. Low stress is ethically correct and makes measurably better meat.
Harvest
Short, low-stress transport to a SENACSA-approved facility. Veterinary inspection pre- and post-mortem. Harvest age targets 18–24 months, slightly older than industrial feedlot, lets the grass-finished flavor profile develop.
Aging and packaging
Quartered and chilled to 0–4°C within minutes of harvest. Vacuum-sealed, wet-aged 7–14 days for everyday cuts; select cuts dry-aged 14–28 days. Every package labeled with cut, weight, lot code, and aging method.
What we publish vs what you typically get
Paraguay does not require brands to disclose how their cattle are raised. SENACSA regulates animal health and export plant inspection, not feed, welfare, or traceability to the consumer. We chose to disclose what we do, and show you what most of the Paraguayan premium market still doesn't. Every row below is a question you can put to any competitor.
What we
Tekorá, we publish
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Feed
Grass-fed vs grass-finished distinction
100% forage from weaning to harvest. No grain, silage, or formulated feed at any stage.
Uses "pastura" / "grass-fed" without disclosing whether the animal is grain-finished. Ask: is this grass-finished too?
Feed
Dry-season supplementation disclosed
Native hay from our own fields if needed. Never grain or balanced feed.
Rarely disclosed. Many operations use corn silage or imported balanced feed during June–October.
Vaccines
Full vaccine list published
Only what SENACSA mandates: foot-and-mouth twice yearly, brucellosis RB51 in breeding females. Nothing else.
Silent. Most brands list no vaccines at all, neither what they use nor what they don't.
Antibiotics
Treated animals exit permanently (not withdrawal period)
An animal that receives antibiotics leaves the Tekorá program permanently.
Typically follows the legal withdrawal period, the treated animal returns to supply. A 2023 FSIS study found residues in ~20% of cattle labeled "Raised Without Antibiotics."
Hormones
No growth hormones, implants, or beta-agonists
Zero. We publish the explicit list of what we don't use.
Export-bound cattle are hormone-free (EU requirement). Domestic-market disclosure is generally absent.
Handling
Welfare framework referenced
Temple Grandin's low-stress handling principles + the Five Freedoms (FAWC 1979).
"We treat our animals well" without a published framework is the norm.
Facility
Slaughterhouse name + SENACSA number public
[TBD: facility name] SENACSA-approved establishment to be disclosed on this page.
"SENACSA-approved" claimed in general terms; specific facility rarely named.
Aging
Method + days stated on the label of every cut
Wet-aged 7–14 days for everyday cuts; dry-aged 14–28 days for select. Always printed on the package.
"Madurado" or "aged" as a marketing term, but specific days and method are rarely on the physical label.
Traceability
Lot code on every package linked to specific animal + ranch + slaughter date
Yes. Ask us about any package and we'll tell you the full chain.
Generic batch codes or none at all. Paraguay's SIAP individual ID (mandatory since 2024) is still ramping to full coverage by end-2026.
Audit
Third-party auditor named
[TBD: Control Unión / LETIS / ARP Carne Natural, confirming enrollment] Third-party audit target before public launch.
Most "certified" claims refer to breed certification (Brangus, Braford), not to feed, welfare, or traceability.
Feed
Grass-fed vs grass-finished distinction
Tekorá, we publish
100% forage from weaning to harvest. No grain, silage, or formulated feed at any stage.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Uses "pastura" / "grass-fed" without disclosing whether the animal is grain-finished. Ask: is this grass-finished too?
Feed
Dry-season supplementation disclosed
Tekorá, we publish
Native hay from our own fields if needed. Never grain or balanced feed.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Rarely disclosed. Many operations use corn silage or imported balanced feed during June–October.
Vaccines
Full vaccine list published
Tekorá, we publish
Only what SENACSA mandates: foot-and-mouth twice yearly, brucellosis RB51 in breeding females. Nothing else.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Silent. Most brands list no vaccines at all, neither what they use nor what they don't.
Antibiotics
Treated animals exit permanently (not withdrawal period)
Tekorá, we publish
An animal that receives antibiotics leaves the Tekorá program permanently.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Typically follows the legal withdrawal period, the treated animal returns to supply. A 2023 FSIS study found residues in ~20% of cattle labeled "Raised Without Antibiotics."
Hormones
No growth hormones, implants, or beta-agonists
Tekorá, we publish
Zero. We publish the explicit list of what we don't use.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Export-bound cattle are hormone-free (EU requirement). Domestic-market disclosure is generally absent.
Handling
Welfare framework referenced
Tekorá, we publish
Temple Grandin's low-stress handling principles + the Five Freedoms (FAWC 1979).
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
"We treat our animals well" without a published framework is the norm.
Facility
Slaughterhouse name + SENACSA number public
Tekorá, we publish
[TBD: facility name] SENACSA-approved establishment to be disclosed on this page.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
"SENACSA-approved" claimed in general terms; specific facility rarely named.
Aging
Method + days stated on the label of every cut
Tekorá, we publish
Wet-aged 7–14 days for everyday cuts; dry-aged 14–28 days for select. Always printed on the package.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
"Madurado" or "aged" as a marketing term, but specific days and method are rarely on the physical label.
Traceability
Lot code on every package linked to specific animal + ranch + slaughter date
Tekorá, we publish
Yes. Ask us about any package and we'll tell you the full chain.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Generic batch codes or none at all. Paraguay's SIAP individual ID (mandatory since 2024) is still ramping to full coverage by end-2026.
Audit
Third-party auditor named
Tekorá, we publish
[TBD: Control Unión / LETIS / ARP Carne Natural, confirming enrollment] Third-party audit target before public launch.
Typical Paraguayan premium brand
Most "certified" claims refer to breed certification (Brangus, Braford), not to feed, welfare, or traceability.
Sources: USDA AMS withdrawal of grass-fed standard (2016); American Grassfed Association standard; SENACSA SIAP / SITRAP / RETSA PY public documentation; FSIS 2023 RWA-residue study; Global Organic Trade Guide, Paraguay. Competitor disclosure audit current as of April 2026 (homepage + Instagram review of seven Asunción premium brands).
Aging windows
Wet vs dry, always declared
Every package tells you which aging method and how many days.
Wet-aged (vacuum) 7–14 days
Dry-aged (cooler) 14–28 days
Cold chain
0–4°C from harvest to your door
Temperature-monitored and verified at every handoff.
0–4°C
target band"The cheapest way to raise cattle is also the worst way. We picked the other way."