The article reports on the dynamics of cattle and buffalo slaughter in Colombia for the first two months of 2021 (January and February) compared to the same period in 2020 and 2019. It highlights a slight decrease in cattle slaughter by 1.3% in January and February, attributed mainly to a significant drop in January's figures, which reached the lowest level in the last decade. Despite this, the total number of cattle slaughtered in February was similar to the previous year, supported by a strong performance in exports.
Domestic demand for cattle remained weak, leading to a 4% decrease in internal consumption in February. Conversely, cattle slaughter for export experienced a notable increase, rising by 54% in February compared to the previous year and reaching record numbers not seen in the last decade. Buffaloes fared better, with a 13.7% increase in their slaughter numbers in the first two months of 2021 compared to the same period in 2020, and a significant 20.5% rise in February alone. These trends suggest a resilient cattle industry in Colombia, particularly in export channels, and a gradual recovery in buffalo slaughter figures.