In 2008, cattle slaughter fell by 6.6% in relation to 2007, accounting for 28.691 million head. On the other hand, 4.875 billion chickens and 28.803 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, increasing respectively by 11.5% and 5.1%. The acquisition of milk increased by 7.5% when reaching 19.238 billion liters, and the production of hen eggs rose 5.3%, with 2.280 billion dozens. The acquisition of whole pieces of bovine leather fell by 12.8%, with 36.378 million units. The information comes from IBGE quarterly survey on animal slaughter, acquisition of leather, milk production and production of hen eggs, which also brings the results of the fourth quarter of 2008. 

Animal production accumulated in 2008 / cattle

Except from April, the slaughter in 2008 was below that registered in 2007 for all months. The biggest differences occurred in March (16.1%), November (14.8%) and December (10.0%). The major decrease was observed in the slaughter of bullocks (49.6%), followed by that of cows (10.1%), calves (9.3%) and bulls (3.7%). Of all the slaughtered animals, 53.0% were bulls, 33.2% cows, 7.9% male calves, and 5.8% female calves.

The Central West Region accounts for 35.1% of the national cattle slaughter; followed by the Southeast Region (24.5%). Mato Grosso presented the highest slaughter percentage (13.3%), followed by São Paulo (12.7%).

Pullets

The slaughter in 2008 was higher than that in 2007 during all the 12 months of the year. The South Region accounts for 60.0% of the whole national production; followed by the Southeast Region, with 24.0%. Paraná contributes with 25.4% of the total number of slaughtered pullets.

Hogs and pigs

In 2008, the slaughter of hogs and pigs was not above the one registered in 2007 only in the months of March, May, August and November. The South Region concentrates 69.1% of the production, followed by the Southeast Region, with 16.7% of the slaughter. Santa Catarina contributes with 28.7% of the total, followed by Paraná, with 22.7%.

Acquisition of milk

By observing the behavior of milk acquisition in the last five years, we verify its increase along time around an average of 7.2% per year. In 2008, the acquisition was higher during the whole first semester of the year.

The Southeast Region is the main region regarding milk acquisition, being 42.4% of the collection carried out by dairy industries. The South Region comes next, with 30.3%. Minas Gerais is the leader, with 27.5% of the total.

Acquisition of leather

In 2008, 36.378 million whole pieces of cattle leather were acquired, a decrease of 12.8% in the 41.739 million pieces obtained in 2007. The difference between the acquisition of leather and the number of slaughtered animals was 26.8%. The Central West Region concentrates 33.4% of the acquisition, followed by the Southeast Region, with 25.2%. São Paulo accounts for 21.9% of the total, followed by Mato Grosso.

Production of hen’s eggs

The production of eggs was bigger than the one in 2007 in all the months of 2008. The Southeast Region leads the production, with 51.2% of the total. The South Region comes next, with 23.0%. São Paulo is the principal producer, with 31.7% of the total.

Results of the fourth quarter / Cattle

In the fourth quarter of 2008, 6,679 million cattle heads were slaughtered, reduction of 9.6% regarding the same period of 2007, and of 6.5% in comparison with the third quarter of last year. Concerning carcass weight the result was 1,565 million tons, what represents falls of 7.6% and 6.4% in relation to the fourth quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2008, respectively.

The survey counted on 1,472 informers. Rio Grande do Sul had the largest number, even though containing just 6.2% of the slaughtered volume. São Paulo leads the slaughter in number of animals, with 13.1% of national production, followed by Mato Grosso (12.9%), Goiás (10.6%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (10.2%).

Pullets

There was the slaughtering of 1.245 billion units of pullets, what showed an increase of 8.5% regarding the same period of 2007 but stability in relation to the third quarter of 2008 (-0.1%). Carcass weight was 2.550 million tons, representing a rise of 5.8% in relation to the fourth quarter of 2007 but a fall of 1.3% in relation to the third quarter of 2008.

The survey counted on 333 informers. Except for Amazonas, Roraima, Amapá and Maranhão, all Brazilian states have informers on pullet slaughter under some kind of inspection. São Paulo had the largest number of informers, although the largest volume of slaughter is concentrated in the South Region: Paraná slaughters 25.4% of the total, followed by Santa Catarina (18.5%) and Rio Grande do Sul (15.9%).

Hogs and pigs

There was the slaughtering of 7.376 million units of hogs and pigs, representing a rise both in the comparison with the fourth quarter of 2007 (+5.9%) and with the third quarter of 2008 (+0.5%). Carcass weight was 686.458 thousand tons, representing rises of 10.7% and 2.3% in relation to the fourth quarter of 2007 and the third quarter of 2008, respectively.

The survey counted on the participation of 922 informers. Amapá and Amazonas are the only states that do not have register of production under any kind of inspection. Rio Grande do Sul had the largest number of informers, and accounts for 22.7% of the slaughtered volume nationally, just behind Santa Catarina (28.7%).

Acquisition of milk

Approximately 4.9 billion liters of milk were acquired, what means a reduction of 1.0% in relation to the same period of 2007 and an increase of 5.2% in comparison with the third quarter of 2008. Regarding milk industrialized by establishments stability was registered (-0.1%) in comparison with the industrialized volume in the fourth quarter of 2007, and increase of 4.9% was registered in relation to the third quarter of 2008. There were 2,057 informers, distributed among all the states except Amapá, whose production does not follow the criteria of the survey. Minas Gerais had the largest number, and leads the national milk acquisition, with 26.2%.

Acquisition of leather

There was the acquisition of 8.030 million units of cattle rawhide, representing a drop of 17.4% in relation to the fourth quarter of 2007 and of 7.3% in relation to the third quarter of 2008. Considering the leather effectively tanned by establishments, the reductions were 16.9% and 5.3%, respectively. In total, 136 informers took part in the survey, except from the states of Amazonas, Amapá, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Alagoas, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and Distrito Federal. São Paulo is the leader in mumber of informers, as well as in participation in the product acquisition (20.2%).

Production of hen eggs

Exactly 574.807 million dozens were produced, representing a rise of 3.4% in relation to the same period in 2007 and fall of 0.4% in relation to the third quarter of 2008. The survey counted on 1,561 informers, distributed throughout the national territory, except for the states of Amapá, Tocantins and Maranhão. São Paulo has the largest number of informers, and also the largest national production (31.6%).