With fewer cows, slaughter dropped by nearly 4,000 head

The activity of the meatpacking industry focused on steers and heifers, many of them destined for the European Quota 481 for the last quarter of the year, while there was a notable drop in cow slaughter. According to INAC data, in the week ending August 2, 47,034 cattle were processed, 3,897 fewer than the previous week and 384 more than in the same period last year.

Steers increased by 324 head during the week to 25,298 (almost the same amount as a year ago) and heifers fell by 226 head to 7,381. The most significant change was in cows, with a weekly drop of 3,730 animals to 13,807.

The most active plant was once again Las Piedras, with 6,351 head slaughtered, followed by Marfrig–Tacuarembó (5,329) and Urgal–San Jacinto (4,320). Marfrig processed 12,202 cattle (with partial activity in Colonia, which entered its holiday period), while Minerva processed 10,127 in three plants, since Canelones was inactive. The Urgal group slaughtered 8,342 head.

In July, 203,839 cattle were slaughtered, 11,000 more than in June and 33,000 above the same month last year. In the first seven months of the year, 1.43 million cattle were processed, 7.3% more than in the same period of 2024. This is only the third time in history that more than 1.4 million cattle have been processed in the year to July, behind only 2021 and the record 1.49 million in 2022.