en.Wedoany.com Reported - Brazil's cattle herd has reached 195.5 million head, but the distribution pattern is undergoing significant changes, with the Midwest maintaining its dominant position and the North's influence steadily increasing. This data comes from the "Beef Report 2026" released by the Brazilian Association of Beef Exporting Industries (ABIEC).
The livestock map shows that the Midwest remains the country's primary cattle-producing region. The North has risen rapidly over the past few decades, becoming Brazil's second-largest cattle-raising force. Among municipalities, Corumbá in Mato Grosso do Sul tops the ranking of Brazil's largest cattle herds, followed by São Félix do Xingu in Pará and Porto Velho in Rondônia.
Brazil's 195.5 million head of livestock are distributed across different production systems, ranging from large extensive farms to more intensive models, with increasing use of technology, supplementary feed, genetics, and integrated production. This scale positions Brazil strategically in the global supply of animal protein and reinforces the economic weight of livestock farming within the country's agribusiness.
The dominance of the Midwest is closely linked to historical and production factors. Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Goiás have a tradition of cattle raising and vast pastures, with well-established slaughterhouses, logistics, and specialized production systems. In recent years, the region has advanced efficient systems such as crop-livestock integration, feedlot finishing, semi-feedlot finishing, genetic improvement, and pasture management.
The changes in the North are even more pronounced. States such as Pará and Rondônia have expanded their importance over the past few decades, with their municipalities ranking among the country's largest cattle herds. São Félix do Xingu (PA) and Porto Velho (RO) are in the top three, reflecting this shift. The development of livestock farming in the North has also increased demands for traceability, environmental compliance, and sustainable production.
Corumbá (MS), located in the Pantanal wetland, has vast land areas and farming systems adapted to local natural conditions, with extensive systems predominating and management influenced by hydrological cycles. The ranking shows that the municipalities with the largest cattle herds in the country are not necessarily located in the states most commonly associated with livestock farming, revealing the diversity of Brazil's livestock distribution and its connection to different biomes.
The survey indicates that Brazil's livestock sector is in a phase of consolidation and transformation. On one hand, the country maintains the world's largest commercial cattle herd. On the other hand, there is a growing need to improve production efficiency, strengthen health controls, enhance traceability, and reduce pressure on new areas. Future trends in Brazil's livestock sector will depend on capabilities in improving pasture management, superior genetics, strategic supplementary feed, nutritional planning, management techniques, and environmental compliance.
With 195.5 million head of cattle, Brazil continues to lead global commercial livestock farming. This data confirms the economic strength of this activity. The ranking also shows that the Midwest remains dominant, the North's influence is growing, and municipalities such as Corumbá, São Félix do Xingu, and Porto Velho are redrawing the map of the country's livestock sector.
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