Intense slaughter pace despite the holiday

Cattle slaughter remained brisk last week even with one less working day due to the 1 May public holiday. INAC reported that 48,641 heads of cattle were processed in the week ended 3 May, a drop of fewer than 4,000 head from the previous week but more than 3,000 head above the same week last year.

The weekly decline was almost entirely in steers ( 17 % to 24,116), while cows fell by just 114 head to 15,455 and heifer throughput increased again to 8,293 head, up 17 % on the previous period and the highest since the third week of November 2021, more than three years ago.

The most active plants were Marfrig Tacuarembó (5,489), Las Piedras (4,958) and Minerva Pulsa (4,059). By company, Marfrig processed 13,346 head, Minerva 12,933 and the Urgal family 7,565.

In April 213,325 head of cattle were slaughtered, more than 15,000 ahead of the same month last year and marking four consecutive months of year on year growth. In the first four months of 2025 slaughter totaled 809,025 head, 4.6 % more than in the same period of 2024.