Cattle slaughter will fall by 2 million head next year

The USDA office in Brasilia forecasts Brazilian cattle slaughter at 45 million head in 2026, compared to 47 million estimated for 2025. The drop is attributed to the expected start of the cattle cycle reversion in the second half of 2025 and producers beginning to retain cows for breeding. According to the Brazilian Beef Industries Association (ABIEC), 65 percent of all production in 2024 originated in federally inspected slaughterhouses, that are the exporting facilities.