In the second quarter of 2025, 10.46 million head of cattle were slaughtered, representing a 3.9% increase compared to the second quarter of 2024 and a 5.5% increase compared to the preceding quarter. The slaughter of 15.01 million head of hogs and pigs was a 2.6% increase compared to the same period of the previous year and a 4.1% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025. The slaughter of 1.64 billion head of hens represented a 1.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 and a 0.4% decrease compared to the first quarter of 2025. These data are the complete results of the Livestock Production Statistics for the second quarter of 2025, released today (10) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The slaughter of 395,980 additional head of cattle in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year, was driven by increases in 20 of the 27 Brazilian Federation Units (UFs). The most intense activity occurred in May, when 3.59 million head were slaughtered, 4.9% more than in the same month of the previous year.

For the first time since 1997, it was observed that females outnumbered males in the number of animals slaughtered. Female slaughter increased 16.0% compared to the same period in 2024, demonstrating a continuation of the upward trend in this category of slaughter in the first half of 2025. Angela Lordão, research manager, commented on the record number of female slaughter. "Female slaughter continued to grow and, despite the expected seasonality of the period, reached the highest level in the survey's historical series, surpassing the share of males for the first time. Young animal slaughter also reached a record, especially heifers, driven by export demand. Of the total number of females, 33.0% were heifers. It is worth noting that, despite the decline in total slaughter in Mato Grosso, the leading state in cattle slaughter, female slaughter in the state was still higher than in the same period of the previous year, due to the increase in heifer slaughter."

Slaughter of hogs and pigs achieves best quarterly result in time series

The slaughter of 385,930 additional head of hogs and pigs in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year, was driven by increases in 12 of the 26 Federation Units participating in the survey. This quarterly result represented the highest slaughter for the months of May and June and was a record in the time series that began in 1997. Angela Lordão explained that the increase in pork slaughter in the country is driven by growing domestic consumption, benefiting from easy-to-prepare cuts, attractive prices, and quality campaigns in the sector, and by record exports, with strong demand from the Philippines and growth in other destinations such as Chile and Japan, which offset the decline in Chinese purchases.

The slaughter of 18.44 million additional head of hens in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period the previous year, was driven by increased slaughter in 19 of the 26 Brazilian Federation Units. Compared to the first quarter, there was a 0.4% decrease. Angela points out that the sector was impacted by the case of avian influenza on a commercial farm in Rio Grande do Sul in mid-May. Brazilian hen exports fell 12.8% compared to the second quarter of 2024, due to trade restrictions imposed by importing markets. It is worth noting that some countries restricted exports only from the state of Rio Grande do Sul, while others, such as China, extended restrictions nationwide.

Milk acquisition is the highest in the time series for a second quarter

Raw milk acquisition in the second quarter of 2025 was 6.50 billion liters, equivalent to a 9.4% increase compared to the second quarter of 2024, and a 1.0% decrease compared to the immediately preceding quarter. This is the largest milk acquisition at these establishments for a second quarter in the entire time series, which began in 1997, surpassing the record for the same quarter of the previous year (2024).

The South Region had the highest proportion of raw milk collection, with 40.7% of the total, followed by the Southeast (35.9%), Central-West (10.5%), Northeast (9.4%), and North (3.5%). "Following the same positive trend as the first quarter, the second quarter of 2025 saw growth in milk collection in all Major Regions of the country, surpassing the previous year's volumes. This increase drove milk collection to a record high in the first half of 2025. Factors such as more favorable weather, which benefits pastures and animal welfare, the supply of high-quality feed for the herd, and increased investment in the activity due to better margins, helped boost activity," explained Ms. Lordão.

The average milk price paid to producers was R$2.75, a 5.4% increase compared to the same period the previous year and a slight decrease compared to the first quarter of 2025 (-0.4%). Comparing the second quarter of 2025 to the same period in 2024, the increase of 559.06 million liters of milk collected nationwide is due to increases recorded in 20 of the 26 Federation Units participating in the Quarterly Survey of Milk.

Compared Q2 2024, leather acquisitions increased by 4.6%

The tanneries surveyed by the Quarterly Survey of Leather in the second quarter of 2025 reported receiving 10.75 million pieces of rawhide. This total represents a 4.6% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 0.1% decrease compared to the preceding quarter.

Regarding the origin of the hide, most came from slaughterhouses, followed by service providers, which together accounted for 92.7% of the total collected in the period.

Hen egg production reaches 1.24 billion dozens

In the second quarter of 2025, hen egg production reached 1.24 billion dozens, a 6.2% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024 and a 2.9% increase compared to the previous quarter.

An additional 72.39 million dozen eggs were produced compared to the second quarter of 2024, resulting from increases in 23 of the 26 Federation Units. More than half of the farms, 1,141 (54.6%), produced eggs for consumption, accounting for 83.0% of the total eggs produced, while 949 farms (45.4%) produced eggs for hatching, accounting for 17.0% of the total eggs produced.

More about the survey

The IBGE conducts quarterly official statistical surveys on the agricultural situation, including the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter, the Quarterly Survey of Milk, the Quarterly Survey of Leather, and the Quarterly Survey of Hen Egg Production. To meet user requests for faster access to information on the agricultural situation, the IBGE began releasing the initial results of these surveys by the first quarter of 2018. They become available approximately one month before the general release of the data in the journal "Índicadores IBGE: Estatística da Produção Pecuária" (IBGE Indicators: Livestock Production Statistics). The data can be found on Sidra.

The next release of the initial results, for the second quarter of 2025, will be released on November 12th, and the full results on December 10th.