In the first quarter of 2026, 10.29 million cattle head were slaughtered, the highest result for a first quarter in the time series, which began in 1997. The result was 3.3% higher than the first quarter of 2025 and 6.9% lower than that recorded in the preceding quarter.

Also in the first quarter of 2026, 15.27 million head of hogs and pigs were slaughtered—an increase of 5.5% compared to the same period in 2025 and a slight decline of 0.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. This was the best result for a first quarter in the time series.

Regarding chicken slaughter, 1.71 billion birds were slaughtered—an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period in 2025 and a 0.5% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025. This result was the second-best ever for a quarter, surpassed only by the record set in the previous quarter..

Raw milk purchasing in the first three months of the year totaled 6.78 billion liters, an increase of 2.6% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and a decrease of 8.0% compared to the preceding quarter. This was the highest volume of milk acquisition for a first quarter in the entire time series.

Regarding the acquisition of leather pieces by tanneries, stability was recorded compared to the same quarter of the previous year, alongside a 3.3% drop compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, totaling 10.75 million leather pieces.

In the first quarter of 2026, 1.21 billion dozen hen eggs were produced—an increase of 0.4% compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a decrease of 3.5% relative to the total recorded in the preceding quarter.

Number of slaughtered animals and carcass weight of cattle, hogs and pigs, and chickens; raw milk acquisition; rawhide acquisition; and chicken egg production – Brazil –  Q1 2026

Cattle slaughter rises 3.3% year-on-year

In the first quarter of 2026, 10.29 million head of cattle were slaughtered under some form of sanitary inspection service. This figure represented a 3.3% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025 and a 6.9% decrease relative to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Cattle carcass production totaled 2.63 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026, marking a 5.1% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 10.3% drop relative to the figure recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Among the Federation Units, Mato Grosso continues to lead in cattle slaughter, accounting for a 17.5% national share, followed by São Paulo (11.6%), Goiás (9.2%), and Pará (9.1%).

Slaughter of hogs and pigs increases 5.5% compared to the same quarter of 2025

The slaughter of hogs and pigs totaled 15.27 million head in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 5.5% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a slight decrease of 0.1% relative to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Santa Catarina continues to lead in the slaughter of hogs and pigs, with a 28.1% national share, followed by Paraná (20.9%) and Rio Grande do Sul (17.8%).

The cumulative carcass weight 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 immediately preceding quarter.

Chicken slaughter totals 1.71 billion head

In the first quarter of 2026, 1.71 billion chickens were slaughtered. This figure was 3.6% higher than that of the same quarter the previous year but represented a 0.5% decrease compared to the fourth quarter of 2025.

Among the Federation Units, Paraná continues to lead by a wide margin in chicken slaughter, accounting for 35.0% of the national total, followed by Santa Catarina (13.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (11.8%), and São Paulo (10.9%).

The total carcass weight reached 3.73 million tonnes in the first quarter of 2026. This total represents an increase of 6.9% compared to the first quarter of 2025 and a 2.2% rise compared to the immediately preceding quarter.

Milk acquisition rises compared to the same period in 2025

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 over 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 procurement for a first quarter in the entire time series (which began in 1997).

Minas Gerais remained at the top of the milk acquisition rankings, accounting for 23.5% of the national total, followed by Paraná (15.6%) and Rio Grande do Sul (13.5%). The average price per liter of raw milk paid to producers in the first quarter of 2026 was R$ 2.24, a figure 18.8% lower than that observed in the same quarter of the previous year. Compared to the average price in the fourth quarter of 2025, there was a 1.4% increase.

Rawhide 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 rawhides per year—reported receiving 10.75 million whole rawhides 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% drop relative to the immediately preceding quarter.

Goiás remains the leader among the Federation Units receiving raw hides 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 represented 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 Federation Units, followed by Minas Gerais (10.2%), Paraná (9.8%), and Espírito Santo (7.9%).