Argentine ranchers are raising heavier cattle to capitalize on higher global beef prices and new trade deals, with one analyst forecasting a 50% rise in exports over the next four years. Cattle producer Guillermo Del Barrio said his feedlot now sends animals to slaughter at around 550 kilograms, up from 300 kilograms previously. Shipments to the United States surged 158% in the first five months of the year to 41,770 metric tons, totaling $348 million, according to the Argentine beef promotion institute IPCVA. Export revenues jumped 44.7% to $1.83 billion in the same period, while the average price of live steers climbed more than a fifth to about $2.80 per kilogram. The industry expects the export share of production to rise from about 30% to 40% in the coming years, potentially exceeding 1.5 million metric tons from 2029 or 2030 onward.