One Truck.

At this time of year, El Mercado de Liniers, South Americas' largest cattle market, receives hundreds of trucks.

Yesterday, there was only one truckload of cattle at Liniers.

ARGENTINA'S largest butchers union and farm groups launched a two-day beef trade strike Thursday to protest layoffs and reduced shifts due to a drop in slaughter levels and the government's closing of beef exports.  Trade at the country's main cattle market, Liniers, ground to a halt Thursday as ranchers held back deliveries to support the stoppage by the greater Buenos Aires butchers union, or SIGCBA. Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires, and the surrounding areas are the most densely populated in the country.