Cattle slaughter remained around 45,000 head

Cattle slaughter saw little change. In the week ending March 22, according to information from INAC, 45,883 cattle were slaughtered, virtually unchanged from the previous week and less than 2% above the same week last year.

Weekly growth occurred in the cow category, up by 445 head to 15,311 (+3%), more than offsetting the moderate decline in steers (22,578 head) and heifers (7,219).

The most active plants were Marfrig-Tacuarembó (5,403), Las Piedras (4,021), and San Jacinto (3,785). With four plants operating for each company, Marfrig slaughtered 13,874 head, Minerva 10,709, and the Urgal family processed 7,276. In all three cases, activity declined compared to the previous week.

During the first 22 days of March, 130,660 heads of cattle were slaughtered, 3.9% less than the 136,026 recorded over the same days in 2024.