Chile: Sheep and cattle slaughter increased by 94.6% in May

This sharp increase was primarily driven by an increase in sheep slaughter, which reached 36,390 heads, representing an annual increase of 102.2%. Within this category, lambs stood out with an increase of 235.2%, reaching a share of 38.3%. They were followed by ewes (47% of the total), which grew by 46.8%, and ewes, with an increase of 253.7%.

Cattle slaughter increased by 23.8%. The category with the highest share was bulls, accounting for 40.1%, although this category showed a decline of 11.2%. In contrast, cows increased by 187.6%, accounting for 30.8% of the total. There were also increases for heifers (16.7%), calves (1.8%), bulls (87.2%), and steers (11.1%).

MEAT production is also growing

Total meat production increased by 52.5% compared to May 2024. This growth was driven by mutton, which reached 618.71 tonnes (+75%). Lamb led the growth, with a 242.6% increase and a 31.1% share of total mutton production. Sheep accounted for almost half of the total production, reaching 309 tonnes (+27.9%).

Beef production increased by 33.5%, driven by strong growth in the cow category (+198.1%), which accounted for 34.8% of the total. Bulls followed, with a 4.2% decline in production, but still accounted for 41.4% of the total. Heifers, bulls, and steers also showed positive changes, with the exception of calves, whose production fell by 1.4%.

Slaughter season 

According to data provided by the Agriculture and Livestock Service, more than 423,000 sheep were slaughtered in various slaughterhouses in the Magallanes region between January and May of this year.  

6958 tons of lamb were produced.