Cattle slaughter in Brazil would reach 40.8 million head in 2025, a 2.9% increase from last year, according to a projection presented by consultancy Datagro at an event in São Paulo. The growth would be driven by external demand, with expectations of record exports.
Datagro analyst Guilherme Jank explained that the increase is supported by a greater share of females sent to slaughter, which could reduce animal supply in the coming years. “In 2025 it should reach close to historical highs, driven by female slaughter,” he said.
For 2026, the consultancy projects a 9.1% decline in slaughter, to 37.1 million head, after the cumulative 16.4% expansion in 2023-2024, when 39.7 million were slaughtered.
At the same time, domestic beef consumption would contract 3.9% in 2025 and 9.4% in 2026. In contrast, exports would grow 7.7% in 2025 compared to 2024. The share of the external market in net production would be 37.1% in 2025 and rise to 39.3% in 2026, compared to 34.6% in 2024.
