Slight decline in slaughter, but still above 55,000 head

Cattle slaughter totaled 56,155 head in the week ending May 17, according to INAC data. That volume was down 2.7% from the previous week’s 57,717 head.

Slaughter was led by steers, which totaled 30,182 head (+3.9%), making up 54% of the weekly total. In contrast, cow and heifer slaughter dropped 9.5% and 7.2%, respectively, totaling 17,555 and 7,660 head. Cow slaughter declined by about 2,000 head from the previous week.

Tacuarembó-Marfrig once again topped the weekly kill with 7,332 head, followed by Las Piedras (5,428), Pando (4,460), PUL-Minerva (4,365), and San Jacinto (4,217).