More than 200 delegates from 29 countries visit Karpaten Meat Group, one of Europe’s leading integrated Angus operations
Romania took center stage in the global Angus community as it hosted the European Angus Forum 2026, bringing together more than 200 breeders, farmers, association leaders, genetic experts and beef industry professionals from 29 countries.
The highlight of the Romanian program was the technical visit to Karpaten Meat Group in Sibiu County, where delegates experienced one of Europe’s most advanced integrated Angus production systems.
Founded in 2008 by Swiss entrepreneurs Samuel Widmer and Stefan Jung, Karpaten Meat Group has grown from an initial import of 120 Angus heifers into one of the largest integrated Angus operations in Europe, managing approximately 5,000 hectares of land, around 2,000 Angus mother cows and a finishing capacity of up to 5,000 cattle.
From Grass to Beef
The farm visit focused on the company’s vertically integrated “grass to beef” production model, allowing delegates to follow the entire production chain from genetics and breeding to finishing, processing and premium beef commercialization.
Visitors explored the breeding program, pasture management system, artificial insemination program, genetic selection strategy and finishing operations.
Particular interest was shown in Karpaten Meat’s commitment to combining extensive pasture-based production with modern genetic improvement technologies, including DNA testing, genomic evaluation and international Angus bloodlines from Canada, the United States, Scotland and Australia.
Genetics Driving Performance
Throughout the visit, delegates observed breeding animals representing several generations of genetic progress achieved through carefully selected international bloodlines and long-term breeding strategies.
The company continues to invest heavily in genetic improvement, focusing on maternal performance, calving ease, growth efficiency, carcass quality and marbling.
International guests praised the quality, uniformity and performance of the cattle presented during the farm tour.
Myles Immerkar, President of the Canadian Angus Association, stated:
“Although Angus markets differ globally, I can confidently say that Romania produces very good animals capable of standing alongside top genetics anywhere in the world. Everything I have seen here exceeded expectations.”
Richard Brinette, President of the European Angus Association and the German Angus Association, highlighted the importance of international cooperation and recognized Romania’s growing role within the European Angus sector.
Closing the Production Chain
An important part of the technical program included the presentation of Carna Carpatica, the company’s deboning and processing facility located in Agnita.
The facility represents a key milestone in Karpaten Meat Group’s long-term strategy of building a fully integrated beef production chain and transforming Romania from a live cattle exporter into a producer and exporter of premium beef products with higher added value.
Romania’s Growing Role in the Angus Industry
European Angus Forum 2026 demonstrated the remarkable development of the Romanian Angus sector over the past decade.
Today, Romania is home to one of Europe’s largest purebred Angus populations and continues to attract international attention due to its extensive grassland resources, favorable climate conditions and rapidly improving genetic base.
For many international participants, the visit confirmed that Romania is no longer an emerging Angus market, but an increasingly important contributor to the future development of the breed in Europe.
As Samuel Widmer, CEO of Karpaten Meat Group, concluded during the event:
“This visit confirms the strong position Karpaten Meat has built internationally and demonstrates the immense potential Romania has in beef cattle genetics and premium beef production.”
www.karpaten-meat.com