Record cattle slaughter for January in Mato Grosso

Total cattle slaughter in the state of Mato Grosso reached 641.04 thousand head in January 2026, a record for the month and a 5.45% increase compared to December, according to INDEA data reported by the Mato Grosso Institute of Agricultural Economics (Imea).

Of that total, 310.55 thousand females and 330.49 thousand males were slaughtered, representing an increase of 21.36% and a decline of 6.13%, respectively, in the same comparison. The share of females in total slaughter rose by 6.35 percentage points compared to December 2025.

Mato Grosso is Brazil’s leading state in terms of slaughter and beef production.

Imea explains that the increase in slaughter during the period was driven by the culling of empty breeding cows after the mating season, together with a larger supply of finished cattle entering the market. Compared to January 2025, female slaughter fell by 5.86%, signaling the beginning of a movement toward reduced female shipments to plants.

The source projects that the number of animals sent to the industry will decline in February, due to the lower number of working days and the Carnival holiday.