Cattle slaughter up 14%, surpasses 50,000 head

After two weeks with slaughter volumes below 50,000 head due to union conflicts and public holidays at the end of May, cattle processing regained momentum in the first week of June. According to data from INAC, 51,130 head were processed in the week ending June 7, up 13.8% from the previous week (+6,215 head) and well above the 44,801 head processed in the same week last year (+14%).

Steers showed particularly strong activity (+16%), with 24,973 head processed, followed by heifers (+17%) with 6,910 head. Cows rose more moderately (+13%) to 18,547 head.

The most active plants last week were: Tacuarembó-Marfrig (6,357 head), followed by Las Piedras (4,820), San Jacinto-Urgal (4,564), Canelones-Minerva (3,833), and Pando-Urgal (3,833).