Cattle slaughter in Mato Grosso reached 1.83 million head in the first quarter of 2026, a record for the period and a 6.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to Imea data based on Indea.
Growth was driven by males, totaling 899.29 thousand head (+15.66%), while female slaughter reached 935.25 thousand (-0.70%). This shift was also reflected in participation: males increased from 45.22% to 49.02%, while females declined from 54.78% to 50.98%. Beyond the record volume, the composition suggests a transition in the cattle cycle, with greater female retention. This, combined with firm demand for finished cattle, points to a gradual tightening of supply in the coming months.
In this context, Imea projects that the beef sector will grow in 2026 driven by prices. It is expected to account for 20.21% of Mato Grosso’s Gross Production Value (GPV), totaling R$ 42.1 billion (+6.87% year-on-year), in a scenario where price gains outweigh volume growth.
