Tight supply prevents significant increase in slaughter

Beef cattle slaughter showed moderate growth. For the week ending June 21, INAC reported that 44,471 head were processed, only 4% more than the previous week, when industrial activity had been affected by a 24-hour union strike. Compared to the same week last year, slaughter was down 2%.

The weekly increase was mainly due to cow slaughter, which reached 16,470 head, over 3,000 head (23%) more than the previous week. Steer slaughter declined 6% week-on-week to 20,562 head, while heifers increased 3% to 6,798 head.

The most active plants were Las Piedras (4,719), Ontilcor (4,507), and Minerva-Pulsa (4,433). With four plants in operation, Marfrig processed 10,675 head, about 1,500 fewer than the previous week. In three plants, Minerva processed 10,566 head, and the Urgal family, in two, processed 8,214 head.

So far in June, 138,187 head of cattle have been slaughtered, 2.4% more than during the same period last year.