Steep drop in female workforce confirms strategy to retain more pregnant women.

According to the report from the National Service for Animal Health and Quality (Senacsa), overall, the total slaughter was 470,164 animals, down from 585,294 in the same period of 2025, representing a drop of 115,130 heads (-20%). However, the most relevant data is in the composition of this decrease. The slaughter of cows fell from 120,293 to 77,949 animals (-37%), while the slaughter of heifers decreased from 131,347 to 80,986 (-44%). Together, these two categories account for 81% of the total drop, confirming a change in the management of the herd. This behavior is in line with the recommendations that had been put forward from different sectors of the industry, where it was warned that the high slaughter of females had a negative impact on the evolution of the cattle herd. The current data show that, within a year, this adjustment is beginning to become visible in practice. The lower output of females responds to a logic of stock replenishment, where the producer prioritizes ...