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Cattle fattening in feedlots in 2026 should reach 1.44 million head in Mato Grosso, according to the 1st survey by the Mato-Grossensse Institute in Agricultural Economics (Imea), published on Thursday (14). The expectation is that the state will have a volume 55,39% higher, compared to the year 2025.<\/p>\n
The survey by Imea was conducted during the month of April and, according to the institute, this increase in confinement should be sustained by large-scale production.<\/p>\n
According to the study, feedlots with a capacity of over 5,001 head are expected to account for 80.92% of the total expected feedlot capacity in 2026, representing approximately 1.17 million head of cattle.<\/p>\n
The western region leads in confinement intentions with 407,912 head, an increase of 50% compared to last year. Next is the northern part of Mato Grosso (333,487). Then come the Southeast (192,500), Northeast (153,414), South-Central (143,573), Mid-North (134,573), and Northwest (78,154).<\/p>\n
\nIn addition to the projected growth, even in a scenario of high prices for finished cattle, feedlot operators have been expanding the use of price protection mechanisms for 2026. This behavior reflects a more cautious stance from the sector in the face of increasing uncertainties in the international economic and geopolitical landscape.<\/p>\n
In this first survey by Imea in 2026, another highlight is the improvement in the exchange ratio between finished cattle and corn. The average daily cost of feedlot cattle showed a slight decrease, going from R$ 13.15 to R$ 13.05 per head\/day, mainly influenced by the devaluation of corn in the state.<\/p>\n
Research from Imea indicates that costs remain pressured by increases in freight and diesel prices, factors that continue to directly impact the operation of feedlots.<\/p>\n
The expansion of activity in Mato Grosso is concentrated in large-scale feedlots, which are expected to register growth of 21,831 TP4T compared to the previous year. Smaller feedlots, especially those with a capacity of up to 1,000 head, are expected to show a decrease of 4,581 TP4T, reflecting greater difficulty in absorbing the higher costs of cattle restocking.<\/p>\n
According to the survey, there is growing concern about the supply of calves on the market, a consequence of the high slaughter of females recorded in recent livestock cycles. This scenario reduces the availability of animals for restocking and keeps prices high.<\/p>\n
Projection for the second half of the year<\/strong><\/p>\n The Imea study shows that feedlots should continue to play a strategic role in supplying the meatpacking industry during the livestock off-season, throughout the second half of 2026.<\/p>\n Between July and December, 82.6% of the confined animals should be sent for slaughter, maintaining the strong concentration of supply in the second half of the year, a period in which there is a reduction in the carrying capacity of the pasture and confinement gains importance in the fattening system.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nTHE MM Cereais<\/strong> works with the best grains on the market in the Central West Region and also keeps you up to date with the latest news and analyses on agribusiness.
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