Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay slaughtered 48.5m cattle in 2025, up 3.5% year on year and up 27% on the kill four years ago in 2021. The Mercosur kill has increased by 10m head in the last four years with much of this increased production destined for export markets.
Focusing on Brazil it slaughtered an extra 1.8m cattle in 2025 when compared with 2024, more than the national Irish kill in 2025.
Brazil slaughtered just over 30m cattle in 2025 in approved in approved slaughter plants. Argentina saw a slight reduction in its national kill to 13.5m cattle, down 2.4% on the 2024 figure.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile beef production in Ireland, the UK and Europe continues to stagnate.
The news comes as the European Parliament voted on Wednesday to request the European Court of Justice to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement is in conformity with the EU treaties.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay slaughtered 48.5m cattle in 2025, up 3.5% year on year and up 27% on the kill four years ago in 2021. The Mercosur kill has increased by 10m head in the last four years with much of this increased production destined for export markets.
Focusing on Brazil it slaughtered an extra 1.8m cattle in 2025 when compared with 2024, more than the national Irish kill in 2025.
Brazil slaughtered just over 30m cattle in 2025 in approved in approved slaughter plants. Argentina saw a slight reduction in its national kill to 13.5m cattle, down 2.4% on the 2024 figure.
Meanwhile beef production in Ireland, the UK and Europe continues to stagnate.
The news comes as the European Parliament voted on Wednesday to request the European Court of Justice to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement is in conformity with the EU treaties.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS