April 19, 2013

Argentina's cattle slaughter has stayed higher during March, a rise of 17% on-year, at 991,000 head.

Female cattle slaughter is also up for the fifth consecutive month.

During March, female cattle slaughter rose 3% on-year, accounting for 42% of total slaughter. The sustained growth in female cattle slaughter has highlighted the possibility for further herd liquidation.

As a consequence of the higher cattle slaughter, beef production in the first three months of the year rose 6.9% on-year, to 680,000 tonnes. The higher production is specifically due to the increase in the total number of cattle slaughtered, as average carcass decreased 2% for the same period, averaging 222kg/head.

The domestic market continues to absorb the higher beef production, with little change in beef exports for the first two months of 2013.