Livestock production trends show shifts in Uruguay and Colombia

Recent data from South American livestock sectors shows varying trends in cattle and pig production. In Uruguay, the National Meat Institute (INAC) reported that cattle slaughter decreased by 8% in the week ending August 22, 2026, with 36,972 head processed. This brings the year-to-date total to 1,345,215 cattle, a 14.5% decline compared to 2025. Sheep slaughter also saw a significant drop of 80% in the same week, totaling 1,106 animals.

In Colombia, the pig census grew by 9.3% compared to 2025, reaching a total of 12,933,869 animals. According to Porkcolombia, the tecnified production sector accounts for 61.7% of the census, while the industrial commercial sector showed strong growth. Regional concentration remains high, with Antioquia, Valle del Cauca, Cundinamarca, the Coffee Axis, and Atlántico accounting for 60.6% of the nation's pigs. The number of pig farms in Colombia also increased by 12.7% over the previous year.