Two-Year high in steer slaughter

Cattle slaughter remained high last week, with a relatively large number of steers—a typical occurrence during the production window for the European 481 quota, involving feedlot-finished animals.

According to the National Meat Institute (INAC), 53,279 cattle were processed during the week ending February 1 —about one thousand fewer than the previous week, but more than 3,000 above the same week in 2024. The growth mainly came from steers: 28,880 head of this category were slaughtered, nearly 4,000 more than the previous week and the highest total in two years (since early February 2023). Steers accounted for 54% of total slaughter, the largest share since late October, when the previous 481 quota window was in effect. The number of cows and heifers dropped by 2,300 head each, to 17,537 and 6,187 respectively, accounting for the overall decline in activity compared to the previous week.

The most active slaughter plants were Las Piedras (5,646), Marfrig-Tacuarembó (5,503), and Minerva-Pulsa (4,816). Marfrig slaughtered 14,295 cattle during the week, Minerva processed 13,192, and the Urgal family group handled 8,322.

In January, a total of 207,057 cattle were slaughtered, an increase of more than 11,000 head year-on-year. This reversed the downward trend in industrial activity that had continued from August through December.