Rural institutions in Uruguay have appealed to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security to recognize cattle slaughter as essential, following unexpected union actions that have disrupted the industry. The institutions argue that these strikes cause significant financial harm to producers, who have no way to mitigate the effects. Each animal sent to slaughter represents a significant investment in time, resources, and costs, and its return can lead to weight loss and stress, rendering it unsellable for a certain period. The unions' striking also increases the supply of cattle, resulting in lower prices for producers. The future Minister of Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries, Alfredo Fratti, has criticized the meat industry union for its actions, highlighting the financial struggles of small and medium-sized producers in the sector.