In the first quarter of 2007, slaughter of bovine animals increased by 11.3% in relation to the same period in 2006. In terms of chicken slaughter, the figure was 2.1%, and of hogs and pigs, 11.1%.

In the first quarter of 2007, slaughter of bovine animals increased by 11.3% in relation to the same period in 2006. In terms of chicken slaughter, the figure was 2.1%, and of hogs and pigs, 11.1%.

The acquisition of milk increased by 2.0%; of leather, by 8.0% and of hen’s eggs, by 1.4%. The state of Mato Grosso concentrated 15.4% of the slaughter of bovine animals. The South Region accounted for 60% of the national production of chickens, with the state of Paraná as the main highlight (24.9%). The Regions also stands out in relation to the slaughter of hogs and pigs (69.1%). Minas Gerais reached 25.3% of the national acquisition of milk.

The figure for acquisition of leather was 10,8 million pieces and 523,6 million dozens of eggs were produced.

In the first quarter of 2007, 45.9% of the total number of animals slaughtered were bulls, 38.6% were cows, 9.0%, male calves and 6.4%, female calves. Among the categories investigated, that of young animals had the highest positive change (17.8% for male calves and 15.3% for female calves). The number of bulls slaughtered increased by 15.4% and the number of calves, by 2.4%.  

Comparing the number of bovine animals slaughtered in the first quarter of 2007 and in the fourth quarter of 2006, there was increase of 0.9%, that is, about 69 thousand head. This change occurred due to the increase of the slaughter of cows (394 thousand) and of female calves (39,4 thousand), which made up for the reduction of the reduced number of slaughtered bulls and bullocks (367,4 thousand).

Weight of bovine carcass increases by 13.5%

In the first quarter of 2007, the total weight of bovine carcass was 213,4 thousand, in the first quarter of 2007. That represents increase of 13.5% in relation to the same period in 2006, slightly above the change of the number of animals slaughtered, because of the bigger average weight of animals in 2007. Bulls, cows and calves had positive change of 16.9%, 6.2%, 19.7% and 16.5%, respectively, whereas the number of bullocks fell by 1.8%.

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, there was increase by about 17,4 thousand tons of bovine carcass in the first quarter of 2007 (1%). This result was, mainly, a consequence of the increase by 89,6 thousand in the number of cows, and of the fall by 72,5 thousand of bull carcass. The reduction of the weight of male calves in the period was similar to the increase of the number of female calves (8,3 and 8,1 thousand, respectively).

The Central West had the highest percentage of participation in slaughter 937.9%), whereas the Southeast and the Northeast regions had 22.5% and 19.8%, respectively. Among the states, Mato Grosso slaughtered 15.4% of the overall average; São Paulo, 13.4% and Mato Grosso do Sul, 13.3%.  

South Region accounts for 60% of the chickens slaughtered

In the first quarter of 2007, one billion chickens were slaughtered. Compared to the same period in the previous year, there was increase by 2.1%. In terms of the variable weight of carcass, threw was decrease by 0.3%. In relation to the immediately previous quarter, the number of animals slaughtered increased by 1.9%, and the weight of carcass, by 1.8%.

The South Region accounted for 60% of the slaughter of animals. The Southeast accounted for 24.2% and the Central West, by 11.3%. Paraná alone slaughtered 24.9% of the total in the country, whereas Santa Catarina accounted for 18.8% and Rio Grande do Sul, for 17.2%.

Six and a half million hogs and pigs slaughtered in the first quarter

In the first quarter of 2007, 6,5 million units of hogs and pigs were slaughtered in Brazil. This number represented an increase of 11.1% in relation to the same period in 2006, and of 2.6% in comparison with the fourth quarter of the same year.

In terms of the weight of hogs and pigs carcasses, there was increase by 11.3% in comparison with the same period in 2006, and decrease by 1.4% in comparison with the previous quarter. The overall figure was 590 thousand tons of carcasses.

Concerning the volume slaughtered, the South region still has the biggest participation (69.1%). It was followed by the Southeast Region (17.1%) and by the Central West Region (11.9%0. The main state in terms of slaughter of hogs and pigs was Santa Catarina, with 27.1% of the overall national result. Rio Grande do Sul (25.8%) and Paraná (16.1%) are other highlights.

All over the country, 4,3 billion liters of milk were produced in the first quarter

The acquisition of milk, in the first quarter of 2007, was 4,3 billion of liters, pointing to an increase of 2.0% over the first quarter of 2006 and decrease by 7.1% compared to the fourth quarter of 2006. The highest figures for milk acquisition were registered in January, indicating increase of 4.3% in relation to the same month in the previous year. The main states which acquired milk in the first quarter of 2007 were Minas Gerais (25.3%), Rio Grande do Sul (14.2%) and Goiás (14.0%).

Considering processed milk, there was change by 1.9% in comparison with the first quarter of 2006 and decrease by 7.0% in relation to the first quarter of the same year.

Acquisition of leather increases by 8.0%

The acquisition of bovine leather pieces, in the first quarter of 2007, was 10,8 million units, according to the Quarterly Survey of Leather. There was increase by 8.0% compared to the same period in 2006. Compared to the previous quarter, there was decrease by 1.0%. The biggest  amount of leather was acquired in March.

Slaughterhouses were the main providers of leather, with 61.1% of the overall amount acquired. Leather provided by other means to tanneries registered in the survey, represented 22.1% of the total, and the leather obtained from intermediate sellers or professionals responsible for the brining of leather, 14.2%. In the period analyzed, there was no imported leather, considering the methodology of the survey encompassed establishments which obtain over 5,000 pieces annually.

The volume of whole bovine leather was 37.6% over the slaughter of bovine animals registered in the Quarterly Survey of Slaughter. This difference represents approximately, 3,0 million animals slaughtered in the period. Considering there was not importation of leather pieces and the stocks of tanneries had low capacity, this difference indicates that the volume of bovine animals slaughtered may be 73% of the real volume slaughtered. The remaining volume of animals slaughtered refers to animals which have not been inspected or counted in the survey.  

There were 10,2 million pieces of tanned or processed leather, which points to the existence of previous stocks used in the same period (60,960 pieces).

First quarter of 2007 has production of 523,6 million dozens of eggs

In the first quarter of 2007, 523,6 million dozens of eggs were produced, indicating positive change of 1.4% over the first quarter of 2006 and negative change of 1.8% over the previous quarter. The states of Rondônia, Acre, Amapá, Tocantins and Maranhão were not surveyed, once in these areas there are no establishments which fit the methodology proposed.

In terms of production, the changes in the first quarter of 2007 and 2006, by state, occurred in Amazonas, Goiás and Mato Grosso. There were decreases in Bahia, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte.