Cattle slaughter up by 64,000 head in the first half of the year

Cattle slaughter in June rose for the sixth consecutive month year-on-year, totaling 1.22 million head in the first half of the year, about 64,000 more (+5.5%) than in the same period in 2024. It was the third highest first-half slaughter in history, only behind the record levels of 2022 and 2021.

In June, 191,640 cattle were processed, an increase of 11,371 head (+6.3%) compared to the same month in 2024. The year-on-year growth was mainly driven by heifers (26,964 head, up 27.4% from 2024), while cow slaughter increased 9.9% (68,752 head), and steers remained nearly unchanged with a marginal annual increase of 0.2% to 92,918.

In the week ending July 5, 44,225 cattle were slaughtered, about 1,000 fewer than the previous week, but still 26% higher year-on-year. At this time last year, several plants were inactive.

Compared to the previous week, there was a notable 27% increase in heifer slaughter to 6,873 head, offset by a 5% decline in steer slaughter to 20,712 and an 8% drop in cow slaughter to 15,950.

The most active plants were Las Piedras (4,324 head), and two Minerva facilities: Canelones (3,833) and Pulsa (3,677). With four plants operating (Tacuarembó was running a single shift), Marfrig processed 11,203 head of cattle, while Minerva, with three plants, slaughtered 10,845, and the Urgal family, with two, processed 6,992.

This week, Minerva is expected to decide on the date for the resumption of operations at the Carrasco meatpacking plant. At that point, one of the other three plants will go on break, as the company's plan is to keep three plants running during this period of relatively limited supply.

At the same time, starting this week, Marfrig’s Tacuarembó plant is on a full shutdown with both shifts on leave, so there will be no activity, and for now, no return date has been set as construction work is being carried out at the plant.