After two consecutive years of decrease cattle slaughter rose again in 2022, with a total 29.80 million head. The national output of hen eggs, exceeded by 1.2% the result of 2021, and hit a new high in 2022, having reached 4.06 billion dozen. Slaughter of hogs and pigs also hit a record figure, with 56.15 million head slaughtered, an increase of 5.9% against the previous year. These results come from Livestock Statistics, released today (15) by the IBGE.  

A total of 29.80 million cattle head were slaughtered in 2022, an increase of 7.5% (2.09 million head) from 2021. “The increase of 19.1% in the slaughter of females was essential for this recovery. These are the livestock cycles. After a period of retention of cows as breeders, followed by the entry of calves in the market and the subsequent devaluation due to the excess of demand, heifer calves start to be sent for slughter,” says the analyst of the survey, Bernardo Viscardi.   

Mato Grosso remained leading the national cattle slaughter ranking in 2022, with 15.8% of the share, followed by São Paulo (11.5%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (11.0%).  

With one more record, the production of hen eggs in 2022 reached 4.06 billion dozen, an increase of 1.2% against 2021. A total of 47.71 million dozen eggs more were made available in the market, a consequence of the increased activities in 16 of the 26 states analyzed.  

Bernardo highlights that the domestic market is the main responsible for this result, since Brazil exports relatively little, less than 1% of the output: “Eggs are the cheapest protein, in absolute figures, among all types surveyed, being an excellent option to replace beef, pork and chicken. Eggs are also used for consumption and for incubation. So, the production of beef and chickens increases with the increase of activity of incubated, fertile eggs.”

São Paulo, which recorded a drop of 0.1% against the previous year, and remained responsible for the biggest production, as the state ranking leader of production of hen eggs, with 27.1%, followed by Paraná (9.4%), Minas Gerais (8.09%) and Espírito Santo (8.4%).

Bigger domestic consumption and exports favor results of chickens and hogs and pigs  

Hogs and pigs were, once more, a highlight in the survey, with 56.15 million head slaughtered in 2022, an increase of 5.9% (3.10 million head more) against 2021. That is a new record.

“It is a cheaper type of meat, more affordable than beef. The swine industry has invested in easy-to-prepare cuts, which certainly helps increase consumption. Also, exports increased. Despite the recovery of its breeding stock after the African Swine Pest was controlled, some of the main destinations of Brazilian beef, such as China, Vietnam and Philippines, maintained high levels of imports.”    

Santa Catarina kept leading slaughter of hogs and pigs in 2022, with 28.5% of the national participation, followed by Paraná (20.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul (17.3%).

As in the case of hogs and pigs, slaughter of chickens also benefited from the high demand in the internal market, because it is an affordable protein for a bigger part of the population. It replaces beef. The result of stability in 2022 is the second best in the time series, only second to the figures reached in 2021.

As for exports, the avian flu that affected the North Hemisphere helped foster the sale of chicken meat in Brazil. “There were problems in the domestic production chains of traditional suppliers in the international market, located in the United states and in the Europen Union. The war in Ukraine was also relevant, since the country was one of the main suppliers,” Mr. Viscardi adds. Brazil, which was the main exporter of chicken meat in the world, is even more stable in this position.

Paraná keeps leading the slaughter of chicken in Brazil in 2022, with 33.5% of the national share, followed by Rio Grande do Sul (13.4%) and Santa Catarina (13.1%).

Acquisition of milk falls for the second consecutive time  

Milk obtained in 2022 reached the figure of 23.85 billion liters, with a decrease of 5.0% in relation to the amount obtained in 2021. That was the second consecutive decrease after the record observed in 2020. “The phenomenon La Niña caused drought in the south of Brazil, damaged pastures and reduced milk production. The high production costs that had an effect on the price of milk, considering animal feed, energy and fuels, together with the low demand of the domestic market, were other important factors,” Mr. Viscardi says.  

Minas Gerais remained as the ranking leader with 24.5% of the national share, followed by Paraná (14.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (13.3%).  

The Quarterly Survey of Leather, which investigates tanneries that process at least 5 thousand pieces or rawhide per year, registered, in 2022, a total 30.22 million whole pieces. That represents an increase of 2.4% from 2021, directly influenced by the increment of reception of cattle rawhide in 13 of the 18 states that have tanneries suitable for the survey.

In the national ranking, Mato Grosso kept leading the reception of cattle rawhide by tanneries in 2022, with 16.6% of participation, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (13.8%) and São Paulo (11.1%).

More about the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter

The survey investigates information on the number of slaughtered animals and the total weight of carcass, by species of cattle (oxen, cows, steers and heifers), hogs and pigs, and chicken, having as collection units establishments that slaughter animals under federal, state or municipal sanitary inspection. The survey is released every quarter and data are presented every month for each quarter of the civil year.

As of the first quarter of 2018, in response to users’ needs for timely information on livestock, the IBGE started releasing "First Results" of the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter for Brazil, as a provisional solution. These data are available nearly one month ahead the release of the "Complete Results”. The complete data can be accessed on  Sidra