Cattle feedlot farming in Mato Grosso is projected to grow by 55% in 2026, according to Imea.

Cattle fattening in feedlots in Mato Grosso is expected to reach 1.44 million head in 2026, according to the first survey by the Mato Grosso Institute for Agricultural Economics (Imea), published this Thursday (14). The expectation is that the state will have a volume 55.39% higher, compared to the year 2025. The Imea survey was carried out during the month of April and, according to the institute, this advance in feedlots should be sustained by large-scale production. According to the study, feedlots with a capacity above 5,001 head should account for 80.92% of all expected feedlots in 2026, representing about 1.17 million cattle. The Western region leads the intention for feedlots with 407,912 head, an increase of 50% compared to last year. Next comes Northern Mato Grosso (333,487). Then come Southeast (192,500), Northeast (153,414), South-Central (143,573), Mid-North (134,573), and Northwest (78,154). In addition to the projected growth, even in a scenario of high prices for finished cattle, feedlot operators have increased the use of price protection mechanisms in 2026. This behavior reflects a more cautious stance from the sector in the face of increasing uncertainties in the international economic and geopolitical landscape. In this first Imea survey in 2026, another highlight is the improvement in the exchange ratio between finished cattle and corn. The average cost per day in feedlots 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. Research by Imea indicates that costs remain pressured by increases in freight and diesel prices, factors that continue to directly impact feedlot operations. The expansion of activity in Mato Grosso is concentrated in large-scale feedlots, which are expected to register growth of 21.83% compared to the previous year. Smaller feedlots, especially those with a capacity of up to 1,000 head, are expected to show a 4.58% decrease, reflecting greater difficulty in absorbing the higher costs of cattle restocking. 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 cattle cycles. This scenario reduces the availability of animals for restocking and keeps prices high. Projection for the second half of the year: 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. Between July and December, 82.6% of feedlot 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 pasture carrying capacity and feedlots gain importance in the fattening system.

This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.