In the third quarter of 2005 7.375 million cattle were slaughtered, an increase of 6.43% compared to the same period of the previous year.

In the third quarter of 2005 7.375 million cattle were slaughtered, an increase of 6.43% compared to the same period of the previous year. Also, 6.143 million hogs and pigs and 997.192 million pullets were slaughtered, respectively, 11.86% and 12.67% more than in the third quarter of 2004.

In the third quarter of 2005, 514.716 million dozen eggs were produced (5.26% more than in the third quarter of 2004) and 4.048 billion liters of milk were acquired, or 14.05% more than in the third quarter of 2004.

The major stocks of grains in the country, up to June 30, were soybeans in grain (21,777,025 t), corn in grain (8,596,518 t), rice in husk (4,211,018 t), wheat in grain (2,668,658 t) and coffee in grain (853,859 t). In relation to the same period of 2004, the changes in the stocks of wheat, rice, soybeans and corn were of 58.5%, 28.7%, 18.1% and 5.6%, respectively, while coffee fell by 17.0%.

In November, the estimate of the harvest of cereals, legumes and oilseeds for 2005 was 112.539 million tons, 5.66% lower than in 2004 (119.294 million tons). The distribution of the production in the region is the following: Central West, 42.221 million tons (37.5%); South, 38.813 million tons (34.5%); Southeast, 17.543 million tons (15.6%); Northeast, 9.932 million tons (8.8%) and North, 4.030 million tons (3.6%).

In the Systematic Survey of Agricultural Production (LSPA) of November, stands out the fall (-3.45% in relation to the previous month) in the estimated production of castor beans. This is a consequence of the performance of the states of the Northeast: Piauí (-12%), Rio Grande do Norte (-8%), Ceará (-5%) and Bahia (-3%). Climatic conditions and low prices are the causes indicated for the reduction. Still, in 2005, Bahia, major national producer (approximately 81% of the harvest of castor beans in the country), may produce 138 thousand tons, 21% more than in 2004 (114 thousand tons).

In relation to 2004, beans in grain 2^nd harvest (6.06%), beans in grain 3^rd harvest (15.20%), castor beans (33.65%) and soybeans in grain (3.12%) increased in the production estimate. The following products fell in relation to 2004: seed cotton (herbaceous) (-4.19%), rice in husk (-0.27%), beans in grain 1^st harvest (-3.50%), corn in grain 1^st harvest (-13.01%), corn in grain 2^nd harvest (-28.50%), sorghum in grain (-27.37%) and wheat in grain (-13.30%).

With the harvest of summer products already finished, the end of the harvest of winter products is being observed, especially wheat in Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul, where only 2% of the planted area is to be reaped. In Paraná, a production of 2.8 million tons is expected, and in Rio Grande do Sul, 1.6 million tons. In national level, the production of wheat for 2005 is estimated in 5.0 million tons, against 5.7 million in 2004 – both still below than the national consumption, which is approximately 10.5 million tons.

In the third quarter of 2005, there was increase in the slaughtering of bulls and decrease in the slaughtering of cows and calves.

In the third quarter of 2005, 7.375 million bulls were slaughtered, an increase of 1.06% compared to the second quarter of 2005 and of 6.43% compared to the same period of the previous year. Comparing the third quarter of 2005 with the same period of 2004, increases of 2.95% for bulls, 5.76% for cows and 18.27% for bullocks can be observed.

In relation to the second quarter of 2005, the positive variations in the herd were 5.14% for bulls and 13.79% for bullocks. Cows and calves recorded decreases.

The carcass weight of cattle for the third quarter of 2005 recorded 1.681 million slaughtered tons, with increases of 6.74% compared to the same period of 2004 and of 1.36% compared to the second quarter of 2005. In relation to the same period of the previous year, all the categories had increases regarding the carcass weight: 4.38% for bulls, 4.83% for cows and 18.49% for bullocks. In relation to the second quarter of 2005, there were increases in two categories: bulls (3.96%) and bullocks (14.84%). Cows and calves had negative variations.

In August, occurred the major slaughtering of cattle (2.567 million animals) of the quarter and of the year. Comparing the accumulated index of this year with the one of the previous year, there were increases in the slaughtering (9.31%) and in the total carcass weight (8.86%). Until November, the states that most slaughtered cattle were São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goiás.

Hogs and Pigs

In the third quarter of 2005, 6.143 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, 11.86% more than in the third quarter of 2004 and 3.29% above the second quarter of 2005. In terms of carcass weight, there was an increase of 20.29% in relation to the third quarter of 2004 and 3.71% compared to the second quarter of 2005. The average weight of the slaughtered animals remained around 93 kg, the same value observed in the second quarter of this year, although above the 86 kg attained in the third quarter of 2004.

In 2004, the month of greatest slaughtering was August (2.102 million hogs and pigs). In the accumulated of the year, in relation to the same period of 2004, there was an increase of 8.03% in slaughtered hogs and pigs and 15.62% in carcass weight. The states that most slaughtered hogs and pigs in the accumulated of the year of 2005 were Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Minas Gerais.

Chicken

In the third quarter of 2005, 997.192 million chickens were slaughtered. There was an increase of 5.02% compared to the second quarter of 2005 and of 12.67% compared to the third quarter of 2004.

There was an increase of 15.04% in the carcass weight in relation to the third quarter of 2004 and of 4.29% compared to the second quarter of 2005. In the total of the quarter, 2.045 million tons of carcasses were slaughtered. The average weight of the slaughtered chicken continued around 2 kg. The month of major slaughtering of chicken in the quarter and in the year was August.

In the accumulated of the year, there was an increase of 9.60% in the number of slaughtered chicken and 12.30% in the total weight of slaughtered carcasses in relation to the accumulated of 2004. In 2005, the main Brazilian states in chicken slaughtering in decreasing order were Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo and Minas Gerais.

Acquisition and industrialization of milk

The industries and milk-food productions that have inspection acquired 4.048 billion liters of milk in the third quarter of 2005, an increase of 14.05% compared to the third quarter of 2004 and of 4.57% compared to the second quarter of 2005. In relation to 2004, up to the third quarter, there was increase in the acquisition of milk in all the months of 2005, which have already accumulated a hike of 13.80%. Minas Gerais led in acquisition, summing in the accumulated of 2005, almost 28% of the total milk. Following are São Paulo and Goiás.

Acquisition of leather

In the third quarter of 2005, the leather industries and tanneries acquired 10.210 million pieces, with positive changes of 11.59% in relation to the third quarter of 2004 and of 4.57% compared to the second quarter of 2005. The leather effectively tanned in the period had also positive changes of 13.97% and 7.15% in relation, respectively, to the third quarter of 2004 and second quarter of 2005.

In the accumulated of the year, August recorded the major acquisition in leather units, almost 3.600 million pieces. The state of São Paulo is the most important in leather acquisition in the Brazilian market, with 24.16% in the accumulated of the year.

Production of hen’s eggs

In the third quarter of 2005,  514.716 million dozen eggs were produced, with hikes of 5.26% in relation to the third quarter of 2004 and 3.32% in relation to the second quarter of 2005. August was also the month with major production of hen’s eggs in the quarter (174.383 million dozen) and in the year.

The main producers of hen’s eggs in 2005, until now, were São Paulo (34.71%), Minas Gerais (13.34%) and Paraná (9.02%). In the comparison with 2004, all the months of the year increased the production of eggs, which already accumulated a hike of 4.29% in 2005.

The production increased more in Paraíba (29.49%) and Amazonas (23.89%). Rio de Janeiro, which, in the second quarter, had recorded the major negative change, appeared in the third quarter with increase of 41.54%. This increase may probably be related to the inclusion of new establishments in the survey. The major negative changes occurred in Rio Grande do Norte (-4.25%) and Federal District (-4.19%).

In the third quarter of 2005, the stocks of wheat, rice, soybeans and corn increased and the one of coffee fell

In the first semester of 2005, the storage system of agricultural products increased by 4.0% in the number of active establishments, in relation to the second semester of 2004. In the end of the first semester of 2005, there were 9,441 active establishments, from which 42.1% were in the South Region; 24.6% in the Southeast; 21.7% in the Central West; 8.3% in the Northeast and 3.3% in the North Region.

The useful capacity of warehouses summed 80.202 million cubic meters. Slightly more than 70.0% were located in the Southeast and South Regions. The grain and bulk warehouses totaled 45.654 million tons of useful capacity, being 49.6% in the Central West Region and 35.2% in the South. Silos for grains had 37.232 million tons of useful capacity in the Country, being 52.5% of this total in the South Region, 27.1% in the Central West and 15.7% in the Southeast. The major stocks, in June 30th, were the ones of soybeans in grain (21,777,025 t), corn in grain (8,596,518 t), rice in husk (4,211,018 t), wheat in grain (2,668,658 t) and coffee in grain (853,859 t).

When compared to the stocks of June 30^th, 2004, the variations of the stocks of wheat, rice, soybeans and corn had positive variations of 58.5%, 28.7%, 18.1% and 5.6%, respectively. For coffee, a fall of 17.0% in the stocked volume was observed.