The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development identified rises in beef prices in 2026, due to a 14.59% increase in live cattle prices. The government is dialoguing with supply chain actors to implement measures protecting domestic supply and household economies.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conducts ongoing technical monitoring of food prices in Colombia. This revealed increases in beef prices during 2026, driven by a 14.59% annual rise in live cattle auction prices up to January that year. This accounts for about 53% of production costs, passing pressures to consumers. In 2025, female slaughter reached 40.9% of the national total, concentrated in animals aged 2 to 5 years, impacting herd replenishment. Live cattle exports were 7.9% of national production that year, with 73% being males aged 1 to 2 years, and 39% of these going abroad, reducing domestic supply. The extraction rate for males in that age group was 10.8% from November 2024 to October 2025, exceeding natural replenishment. To address these trends, the government has held talks with supply chain stakeholders. Proposed measures include reducing slaughter of breeding-age females, enhancing traceability for real-time data on slaughter and exports, and setting an annual export quota for males aged 1 to 2 years. These aim to stabilize prices, safeguard national production, and ensure food security.
