Brazil's livestock sector grapples with heat stress, market glut and new technologies in 2026

An extended El Niño event has deepened drought and heat stress across Brazil's Central and Northern regions, prompting early culling of cattle, higher feed costs and reduced reproductive rates. The National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) warned of severe thermal stress for bovine herds in Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Amazonas and Pará through early August, urging shade, water and adjusted handling practices.

The poultry market is experiencing a supply glut, with producers JBS and MBRF raising 2.3% more chicks and slaughtering 2.5% more birds than a year earlier. JPMorgan predicts margin pressure for the second half of 2026 as domestic demand stays weak and beef and pork prices fall, although export margins remain healthy.

At the 2026 Salão Internacional de Proteína Animal (SIAVS), record attendance highlighted advances in genetics and nutrition for swine and poultry, including precision breeding and reduced‑antibiotic feed additives. The event also featured the launch of Vaxxinova's autogenous swine‑influenza vaccine at the 18th Brazilian Swine Symposium.

In cattle breeding, in‑vitro fertilisation now accounts for over 90% of the elite animals displayed at Expoacre, accelerating genetic improvement and offering long‑term storage of embryos.