Livestock monitor | 2024 campaign
Argentine Livestock Review 2024: How much did milk production and consumption of dairy products and meat fall, and why did beef exports reach a record high? April 2025 Report.
Raw milk production fell by 6,5% in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching 10.590 billion liters. The severe drought that ended in 2023 had its greatest impact on supply reduction during 2024. However, data from the last summer already show year-on-year increases in primary production. In January 2025, 35 million more liters were produced than in the same month of 2024. These data support our hypothesis that the Argentine dairy industry has been stagnant for more than 25 years.
Dairy products: rising prices and falling consumption
The sharp decline in milk supply caused dairy prices to rise above the average for other goods in the food basket. This situation, combined with low real income levels, led to a significant drop in consumption, which fell by 19 liters per capita annually.
Annual per capita dairy consumption in liters equivalent. Last 7 years.
Source: Prepared by the authors using data from SAGYP and OCLA
Regarding dairy exports, 27 more tons were sold in 2024 than in 2023. This represented a $95 million increase in the trade balance. Among cheeses, the increase in mozzarella exports stands out.
Meat: less slaughter and less consumption
Cattle slaughter fell by 4% (13,9 million head), and production by 3%, totaling 3,18 million tons. The liquidation of breeding females continues, and the replacement of females is slow, so a lower future supply is expected.
Evolution of the cattle herd (in millions of heads) and percentage of females being slaughtered.
Source: Prepared by the authors using data from SAGYP
On the other hand, poultry meat production remains stable at around 2,3 million tons (740 million head), while pork production continues its upward trend (+3% vs 2023) reaching a production of 785 tons.
Domestic meat consumption fell sharply. The largest decrease was in beef consumption (-4,5 kg). Chicken consumption also fell (-0,7 kg), while pork consumption increased by 0,4 kg. The average Argentinian consumed 48 kg of beef, 45 kg of chicken, and 17 kg of pork in 2024.
Annual per capita meat consumption. Last 7 years
Source: Prepared by the authors using data from SAGYP
Beef exports reached a record high. 935 tons were sold, representing $2.887 billion in revenue; 6,8 out of every 10 kg were sold to China.
In conclusion , the crisis experienced by our country during 2024 led to a sharp contraction in the consumption of animal protein by Argentinians.
Production remained stagnant, and the effects of the prolonged drought, which ended in late 2023, were still felt during the first half of 2024. The sharp contraction in consumption allowed for higher export volumes. This improved the livestock trade balance, even though international prices showed downward trends and did not keep pace.
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Monitor Ganadero – Campaña 2024. Informes del Observatorio UNR N.º 73 — Serie Informes de Coyuntura N.º 31, abril de 2025. ISSN 2683-9067 / 2683-9075. Autores: Alfredo O. Bula, Rolando V. Gonzalez y Germán A. Tessmer.