Weekly slaughter falls by about 10,000 head

As is always the case during Easter week, cattle slaughter declined. INAC reported that 39,723 head were processed in the week to 19 April—about 10,000 fewer than the previous week.

The drop was concentrated in female categories: cows were down 26 % to 13,968 head, and heifers fell 33% to 4,613. Steers slipped only 11% to 20,370.

Marfrig Tacuarembó remained the busiest plant, processing 4,372 head, followed by Pando (3,951) and Minerva Pulsa (3,229).

During the first 19 days of April, 128,992 cattle were slaughtered—3.4% more than in the same period of 2024. With production for a new quota 481 window starting this week, slaughter is expected to rise to just over 50,000 head in the week. That would put April’s total above 200,000 head, making it the fourth consecutive month of year on year growth.