Uruguayan Cattle Slaughter Down In 2010
URUGUAY - Uruguayan cattle slaughter decreased 5 per cent in 2010, to 2.2 million head, as overall cattle supplies continued to remain tight.
4 February 2011
1 minute read
Total Uruguayan cattle turnoff in 2010 was estimated at 2.4 million head, with close to 200,000 head shipped live according to analysts at Meat and Livestock Australia.
High global and domestic demand, combined with tighter numbers influenced the recovery in Uruguayan live cattle prices in 2010. For 2010, the heavy steer indicator averaged 35 per cent higher on the previous year, at 151US¢/kg lwt.
An improvement in the local economy helped to ramp up Uruguayan beef demand in 2010, with average domestic consumption increasing to around 57kg/head per annum.
Following the reduced beef production and increased domestic consumption, Uruguayan exports for 2010 declined 7 per cent year-on-year, to 241,172 tonnes swt - making up 65 per cent on total beef production. In 2006, beef exports made up 76 per cent of total beef production.
The Uruguayan export industry in 2011 is reportedly focused on increasing access to high value markets, such as South Korea. For 2011, cattle slaughter is expected to remain at similar levels to 2010, with little increase in exports (INAC).
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