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According to industry sources in Brazil, floods in Rio Grande do Sul have led to the loss of approximately 12,000 pigs, severely impacting the country’s pork production.
Valdecir Folador, head of the hog producers’ lobby ACSURS, reported that around 30 farms suffered from the floods, including suppliers to major companies such as BRF SA and JBS SA’s Seara division. The flooding submerged entire towns and destroyed critical infrastructure, making it difficult for these farms to operate. It took ACSURS two weeks to fully assess the extent of the damage, and while the companies involved have yet to comment, the losses are expected to have significant repercussions.

Rio Grande do Sul is crucial to Brazil’s pork industry, contributing to almost 25% of the country’s total pork exports. The floods also disrupted the port of Rio Grande, which handles roughly 10% of Brazil’s pork exports. Landslides and road blockages further exacerbated the situation, hindering the transportation of goods and access to essential services.
Despite the relatively small percentage of hogs lost compared to the overall population of around 5 million in the state, the indirect consequences are severe. The floods have impeded access to food and water supplies, forcing farmers to ration feed, which in turn has led to a reduction in animal weight and overall productivity. This has particularly affected farms supplying BRF’s plant in the Lajeado area, where up to 60% of hogs died due to the adverse conditions.
Some analysts believe that the floods have not only caused immediate losses but will likely continue to impact the region’s agricultural output for some time, possibly years.