Finished cattle prices find support, some regions see gains

On the last day of May, Brazil’s physical market for finished cattle remained stable in most cattle-raising regions—a trend that held through the start of the first week of June, with some regions even seeing price increases. Market consultancy Safras & Mercado reported gains at the beginning of this week in São Paulo (R$300.75/@), Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará and Minas Gerais. According to Agrifatto, good pasture conditions for this time of year have allowed producers to hold back animals, leading to a reduction in slaughter schedules in four of the nine monitored regions. The national average fell to 8 working days.

Despite many packers staying out of the market due to forward contracts and efforts to push down finished cattle prices, values have held steady. “The strategy has proven ineffective in the face of limited supply, with producers able to keep cattle on pasture,” Agrifatto noted.

Meanwhile, in the futures market, the October 2025 contract stood out on Monday with a 2.34% increase, closing at R$347.80/@.

After a period of sluggish sales and falling prices, last week was marked by increased retail demand and declining stocks. As a result, prices moved higher. According to Scot Consultoria, carcass prices for steers rose 3.2%, while cow carcasses increased 2.7%.