Brazil cattle slaughter hits record in 2025
Beef output tops 11 million tonnes as exports absorb supply
5 March 2026
1 minute read
By: Brazil slaughtered a record 42.5 million cattle in 2025, up 8.2% from 2024, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Cepea reported.
The total was also 24.6 per cent higher than 2023 levels and 42.6 per cent above 2022, reflecting strong investments in the cattle sector since 2020, progress in the cattle cycle and high levels of female culling.
While the record slaughter increased beef supply in the short term, strong export demand helped absorb the additional volume and limited pressure on prices in 2025.
Beef production also rose, surpassing 11 million tonnes in 2025. Output increased 7.9 per cent from 2024, 24% from 2023 and 37.9% compared with 2022.
In addition to higher slaughter numbers, the growth in production reflects structural expansion in Brazil’s livestock sector, supported by rising exports and ongoing improvements in production systems and technology.
Average productivity remained high in 2025 but slipped slightly due to the larger number of female animals sent to slaughter.
National herd productivity, including cows, heifers, steers and other cattle, averaged 258.69 kilograms per animal in 2025, down 0.84% from 2024 but up 0.42% from 2023 and 0.78% from 2022.
