Rain shortens slaughter schedules, supporting prices of fat cattle

The market for fat cattle presents a relatively favorable scenario, with firmer prices and signs of seasonal appreciation, albeit gradual, according to Beatriz Bian, a market analyst from Datagro. In Beatriz's assessment, the supply of animals ready for slaughter has slowed down, especially in the pasture system, which contributes to the shortening of slaughter scales. Although deliveries are still at historically high levels, the flow of animals from feedlots and intensive fattening systems has faced restrictions. Moreover, recent rains in various regions have favored the recovery of pastures, encouraging ranchers to retain animals for longer periods. In parallel, the entry into the breeding season removes females from the slaughter cycle, reinforcing the scarcity of supply. The breeding activity has also received incentives, and the replacement market, especially for calves, shows increasing demand. In the domestic market, the second half of October recorded relatively firm ...