Between 2018 and 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 6%, while the number of pigs slaughtered decreased 9%.
According to the figures of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama, 341,188 heads of cattle were slaughtered last year, a figure higher than the 323,289 reported in 2018.
A 5,000 square meter industrial plant with the capacity to process 95 pigs per hour was inaugurated in the municipality of San Juan Opico, department of La Libertad.
The project, which required more than $5 million in investment, was financed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which contributed $2.3 million, and the remaining amount was disbursed by the Salvadoran Meat Industry (INCARSA).
Between January and November of this year, pig producers slaughtered 486,500 pigs, 10% less than reported for the same period in 2018.
Figures from the latest report by the General Comptroller of the Republic detail that the slaughter of pigs in Panama has been registering a downward trend towards the closure of each year since 2017.
Producer Eric Velazquez, who is part of the National Association of Pig Farmers (Anapor), told Laestrella.com.pa that "... 'this year (2019) was difficult at first, the situation improved in the middle of the year, and the situation was so strong that many colleagues left the activity; however, everything changed at the end, because those of us who are still standing are reaping the investment."
As in the case of Panama, Chinese authorities gave their endorsement for the processing plants Porcina Americana and Carnes Zamora to start selling pork products to the Asian giant from January 2020.
Following the authorization granted by the Asian country, pig farmers predict a strong impact on employment generation in rural sectors where most pig farms are located, reported the National Animal Health Service of Costa Rica (Senasa).
With the approval of a decree declaring beef and all its edible offal as sensitive products, importers in the country will not be able to opt for tariff exemptions.
The Cabinet Council approved Cabinet Decree No. 29 dated December 10, 2019, which declares as sensitive products for the national economy all beef, whether fresh, chilled, frozen, salted, smoked, or processed, as well as all edible bovine offal, whether fresh, chilled or frozen, reported the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of cattle rose from 1.49 million to 1.58 million, an increase of 5%.
The National Agricultural Survey (ENA) prepared by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, specifies that of the total number of cattle counted in 2018, 61.8% corresponds to meat production, 15.8% was allocated to milk production, 22.2% dual purpose and finally, working animals represent 0.2%.
In Nicaragua, ranchers claim that as a result of the tax reform and the inevitable increase in production costs, they have had to increase the slaughter of female cattle by 4%, putting at risk the growth of the cattle herd.
After the approval on February 27, 2019 of the amendment to the Tax Concertation Law, which consisted of raising income tax from 1% to 2% for medium sized companies with higher income, and for large taxpayers from 1% to 3%, the livestock sector has reported considerable increases in its production costs.
In Panama, the authorities ordered a temporary special agricultural safeguard measure to be applied to imports of beef other than prime and choice beef originating in the United States.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) indicated that this special safeguard, which will be in effect until December 2019, is because imports of this product reached last October, the activation level of the measure agreed in the SPC between Panama and the United States.
Between October 2018 and the same month in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 10%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 6%.
According to the latest report of the General Comptroller of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first ten months of the year 283,227 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 270,214 reported in the same period of 2018.
The protocol allowing Guatemalan companies to sell live cattle in the neighboring country will come into effect on December 15, 2019.
After the negotiation process between Mexican and Guatemalan authorities has concluded and the sanitary regulations for the entry of animals have been approved, the Central American country has the green light to start selling live cattle.
From January to March 2019, the countries of the region reported $154 million in sales of beef abroad, and exports to Puerto Rico grew 12% over the same period in 2017.
Figures from the Trade Intelligence Unit at CentralAmericaData: [GRAPHIC caption="Click to interact with graphic"]
From 12 to 17 November will take place in Guatemala City the Week of Livestock and Expoleche 2019, where businessmen expect to close deals for about $10 million.
The organizers of the event informed that for the edition of this year's event, genetic improvement technologies will be presented to the participants and it is expected that about 35 thousand people will attend.
Between January and September 2018 and the same period in 2019, the number of cattle slaughtered in Panama increased 4%, while the slaughter of pigs decreased 9%.
The most recent figures from the General Comptroller's Office of the Republic of Panama detail that in the first nine months of the year 252,143 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 242,270 reported in the same period of 2018.
Costa Rican authorities issued a health alert because they are marketing anabolic medicines, multivitamins and dewormers without registration in the country.
The Directorate of Veterinary Medicines (DMV) of the National Animal Health Service, explained that the compounds that are being offered on social networks and some websites are Injectable Crecibol and the vitamin Engordan Plus Ande.
Consistent with the downward trend reported in recent months, between January and August 2018 and the same period in 2019 the number of pigs slaughtered in the country fell 9%, while the slaughter of cattle grew 3% for the periods in question.
The most recent report of the General Comptroller of the Republic details that in the first eight months of the year 223,979 head of cattle were slaughtered, a figure higher than the 216,059 reported in the same period of 2018.