FEDEGÁN commemorates National Cattleman's Day in Colombia

September 30 marks National Cattleman's Day in Colombia, a date established by FEDEGÁN to honor former president José Raimundo Sojo Zambrano, who was assassinated by the FARC in 1995. The day also serves as a memorial for the thousands of cattle ranchers who have faced kidnapping, extortion, displacement, and murder.

The livestock sector's history is defined by efforts to organize and defend producers against violence. Key figures mentioned include Miguel Santamaría Dávila, who helped consolidate FEDEGÁN as a national representative body, and Jorge Visbal, who led the organization during periods of intense conflict.

FEDEGÁN functions as a collective voice for the sector, managing large-scale operations such as vaccinating 30 million animals and overseeing 700,000 properties, while advocating for producers against state issues and illegal activities like smuggling.