Loss of Livestock in Argentina Due to Climate Change and Drought
According to official data, as of December 31, 2024, the livestock population in Argentina stood at 51,626,909 heads, a result of a prolonged downward trend that has been ongoing since 2018. The decline in animal numbers has been caused by climate change and drought, which have been devastating the country’s agricultural sector for the past two years.
This is reported by AgroReview
Causes and Consequences of the Decline in Livestock Population
Undoubtedly, the main reason for the decrease in livestock numbers is the climatic situation. The drought, which has affected most of the country, has had a particularly significant impact, leading to substantial losses. In the provinces of Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Córdoba, and Santa Fe, over 850,000 heads of cattle were lost last year, accounting for 75% of the national decline in animal numbers.
In addition to climatic factors, the lack of effective support programs for the sector and macroeconomic imbalances have contributed to the failure to initiate recovery of the livestock population after the sharp reduction in 2008/09, when approximately 10 million heads of cattle were lost.
Current Status and Forecasts for the Livestock Sector
According to the latest data, the number of calves in 2024 is 14.6 million, which has changed little compared to the previous cycle but still remains below the 2022 level, when 15.1 million were recorded. At the same time, the calf birth rate this year was 65.2%, a slight improvement compared to 63.8% in 2023, but still lower than the 66.7% recorded in 2022.
Particular concern is raised by the decline in the bull population, which has decreased from 4.7 million in 2007 to 2.23 million in 2024, marking one of the worst figures in the last seven years. The reduction in the number of bulls complicates the issues of herd recovery and increasing meat production.
Another problematic category is cows. In 2024, their slaughter exceeded 2.62 million heads, with a total population at the beginning of the year of 7.36 million. This indicates a reduction of over 900,000 cows compared to 2022. Over the past two years, Argentina has lost more than 1.7 million cows and heifers, which has reduced potential meat production.
Prospects and Challenges for the Agricultural Sector
Despite improvements in some indicators, the high rate of slaughter of young females persists. In the first quarter of 2025, over 3.2 million heads were slaughtered, of which about 980,000 were heifers, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total slaughter for the year. This creates risks for further reductions in livestock numbers if the trend continues.
Experts estimate that to avoid further declines in livestock numbers, heifer slaughter in 2025 must decrease to 3.5 million, which requires significant efforts and strategic steps to restore the sector.