Paraguayan livestock farming is undergoing a profound transformation: in one decade, more than 34,000 cattle producers have disappeared, and production is increasingly concentrated in large units. This is revealed by a study by the Paraguayan Chamber of Meat (CPC) based on data from the National Service for Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa).
According to the report, about 3% of establishments generate approximately 61% of all bovine production in the country. This concentration reflects the competitive advantages of breeders with more than 500 head, who have greater capacity to invest in infrastructure, technology, and productive efficiency.
In contrast, small and medium livestock farmers face growing difficulties in maintaining profitability, especially in the face of droughts, adverse weather events, and market price fluctuations.
Senacsa numbers show the trend: in 2006 there were 115,595 cattle owners; the number peaked at 151,084 in 2015 and has since fallen to 116,224 in 2025 – practically the same level as two decades ago.
The reduction of more than 34,000 breeders in ten years reveals a reconfiguration of the sector. In addition to the financial limitations that mainly affect smaller establishments, the advance of agriculture and forestry has driven changes in land use, leading many producers to reduce or abandon livestock farming.
The impact is strongest in the Eastern Region, which accounts for more than 90% of the drop in the number of breeders between 2015 and 2025. Departments such as San Pedro, Concepción, Caaguazú, Itapúa, and Caazapá are among the most affected. The region has a more fragmented structure and smaller-scale establishments, making it more vulnerable to reconversion or exit of producers.
The Western Region (Chaco), characterized by larger productive units and extensive systems, registers a more moderate reduction.
The current scenario outlines an increasingly efficient and concentrated livestock sector, but with fewer actors. The challenge for the sector, the study points out, will be to maintain competitiveness without deepening productive and territorial inequalities, promoting more balanced and sustainable development.