In the first quarter of 2026, 10.29 million cattle head were slaughtered, a 3.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, there was a 6.9% decrease. The slaughter of hogs and pigs reached 15.27 million head in the first quarter of 2026, a 5.5% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a slight 0.1% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. Regarding chicken slaughter, 1.71 billion head were slaughtered, a result 3.6% higher than that obtained in the equivalent quarter of the previous year, but 0.5% lower than that verified in the fourth quarter of 2025. This was the best result for the slaughter of cattle, hogs and pigs, and chickens for a first quarter in the time series (which began in 1997).

Data come from the Quarterly Surveys of Animal Slaughter, Milk, Hides, and Hen Egg Production for the first quarter of 2026, released today (16) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

According to IBGE’s Livestock Manager, Octávio Oliveira, the slaughter of females was a highlight of this quarter in 2026. "The cattle sector saw the highest volume of slaughter and carcass production ever recorded for a first quarter. The share of females in the total slaughter increased more than that of males, reaching a record 49.9%. This trend signals a resumption of growth in female slaughter following two consecutive quarters of decline," he explained.

Cattle carcass production totaled 2.63 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, a 5.1% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year. However, compared to the preceding quarter, there was a 10.3% decrease.

Meanwhile, the total weight of carcasses f hogs and pigs reached 1.43 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026—an increase of 6.9% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and 1.0% compared to the preceding quarter.

Regarding chicken slaughter, the total carcass weight was 3.73 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 6.9% increase over the first quarter of 2025 and a 2.2% increase compared to the preceding quarter.

Among the Federation Units, Mato Grosso continues to lead in cattle slaughter, accounting for 17.5% of the national total, followed by São Paulo (11.6%), Goiás (9.2%), and Pará (9.1%). Santa Catarina leads in slaughter of hogs and pigs, accounting for a 28.1% national share, followed by Paraná (20.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (17.8%). Regarding chicken production, Paraná accounts for the largest share at 35.0% of the national total, followed by Santa Catarina (13.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (11.8%), and closely behind, São Paulo (10.9%).

Raw milk acquisition also hits record volume for a first quarter

Raw milk acquisition by establishments operating under some form of sanitary inspection (federal, state, or municipal) totaled 6.78 billion liters in the first quarter of 2026. This figure represents a 2.6% increase compared to the volume recorded in the first quarter of 2025 and an 8.0% decrease compared to the preceding quarter. It was the highest volume of milk acquisition for a first quarter in the entire time series.

Another point highlighted by the manager concerns the price of milk: “The average net price paid to producers by the industry was R$ 2.24, which is 18.8% lower than the price in the first quarter of 2025. However, this figure showed an upward trend throughout the months of the quarter, rising from R$ 2.10 in January to R$ 2.44 in March.”

Among the Federation Units, the most significant positive changes occurred in: Paraná (+88.74 million liters), Rio Grande do Sul (+60.24 million liters), Santa Catarina (+44.56 million liters), Minas Gerais (+26.63 million liters), and Ceará (+12.76 million liters).

Leather acquisition remains stable compared to the first quarter of 2025

Tanneries surveyed in the Quarterly Survey of Leather—those tanning at least 5,000 whole cattle hides annually—reported receiving 10.75 million whole cattle hides in the first quarter of 2026. This volume represents stability compared to the figure recorded in the first quarter of 2025 and a 3.3% decrease relative to the preceding quarter.

Goiás leads the Federation Units receiving rawhides for processing, accounting for a 19.0% share of the national total, followed by Mato Grosso (16.8%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (12.1%).

Hen egg production totals 1.21 billion dozen

Hen egg production reached 1.21 billion dozen in the first quarter of 2026. This result represents a 0.4% increase compared to the same period of the previous year and a 3.5% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Accounting for 24.6% of national production in the first quarter of 2026, the state of São Paulo remained the largest egg producer among the Federtion Units, followed by Minas Gerais (10.2%), Paraná (9.8%), and Espírito Santo (7.9%).

Learn more about the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter – SLAUGHTER:

What is the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter ?
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 Learn more about the Quarterly Survey of Milk – MILK:

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 Learn more about the Quarterly Survey of Leather – LEATHER:

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 Learn more about Hen Egg Production – POG:

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