Cattle slaughter down due to sharp drop in cow activity

Cattle slaughter fell by around 3,000 head last week despite being within the active 481-quota window, which typically brings strong industrial activity with steers and heifers.

In the week ending November 1, a total of 46,746 head were processed, 6% less than the previous week and about 2,500 fewer than in the same week last year.

There was a significant increase in steer slaughter, driven by production for the European 481 quota. A total of 23,586 head from this category entered plants —the highest number in 11 weeks, since the previous production cycle for the quota. Steers accounted for 50.5% of total slaughter, surpassing 50% for the first time since the last quota window. Heifers totaled 7,878 head, the highest number since the second week of May. Conversely, cows numbered 14,410, down more than 5,000 week-on-week, though 1,500 higher than a year earlier.

The most active plants were MBRF-Tacuarembó (6,341), Las Piedras (6,313), and Minerva-Pulsa (4,157). With three plants operating, MBRF processed 12,625 head, while Minerva also with three plants, handled 9,325, and the Urgal group, with two plants, 8,050.

In October, 197,480 head were slaughtered, 774 more than in the same month last year, marking 10 consecutive months of annual growth in industrial activity. The increase was mainly driven by higher cow slaughter (+18%), which more than offset declines in steers (-10%) and heifers, which showed a marginal drop.

In the first 10 months of 2025, 1.99 million cattle were slaughtered, 120,000 more (+6.4%) than in the same period of 2024.