Weekly steer slaughter highest in almost three years

Production for a new window of the EU 481 grainfed quota sharply boosted cattle slaughter last week, especially for steers and heifers. INAC reported that 52,609 heads entered slaughter plants in the week to 26 April, the largest tally since the week ended 25 January, when slaughterhouses were actively working for the previous quota window.

The 481-quota production is also visible in the slaughter mix. Weekly throughput rose mainly in steers and heifers, by 43% and 54% respectively. Steers totaled 29,065 head—the highest number since the third week of May 2022, almost three years ago. Heifers numbered 7,082 and cows 15,569, an 11% weekly rise.

Marfrig’s Tacuarembó plant remained the busiest, slaughtering 6,601 head, followed by Las Piedras (5,024) and Pando (4,337). Across its four plants, Marfrig processed 16,171 head, the largest weekly kill since December 2010, more than 14 years ago. Minerva, also operating four plants, handled 12,787 head, while the Urgal family’s two plants processed 8,217.

With three working days still to be counted, April cattle slaughter stands at 181,489 head, 4.7% above the same days last year. The month is on track to close a little above 210,000 head, around 12,000–13,000 more than in April 2024.

Sheep slaughter in the week to 26 April was the highest in four weeks. INAC said 11,565 sheep were processed, nearly 7,000 more than the revised figure for the previous week. Frigorífico Trinidad (Oferan SA) has begun slaughtering sheep, joining Las Piedras and San Jacinto since early April.

Last week the leading sheep processors were Las Piedras (4,002), Oferan (3,580) and San Jacinto (3,451).