In the second quarter of 2006, 7,529 million cattle and 6,121 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered. These figures meant an increase of 6.32% and 4.95%, respectively, in relation to the first quarter of this same year. In the same comparison, the slaughter of pullets (873,618 million in Q2 2006) fell by 13.90%.

Still in the second quarter of 2006, 3,830 billion liters of milk and 515,480 million dozens of hen’s eggs were produced. In comparison with the first quarter of the year, the production of milk fell by 8.37%, representing an increase of 5.54% in relation to the immediately previous quarter. These data, relative to the second quarter of 2006, were collected by IBGE as part of the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter, of the Quarterly Survey of the Production of Milk, Leather, and Hen’s Eggs.

Slaughter of cattle increases by 6.32%

In the second quarter of 2006, 7,529 million cattle were slaughtered. It represents an increase of 6.32% compared to figures in the first quarter and of 2.74% compared to figures in the second quarter of last year. About 45% of the animals slaughtered were classified as bulls, 39% as cows and 16% as bullocks. Still in the second quarter of 2006, slaughter of cows was 4.85% higher than in the equivalent period in 2005, but it remained practically stable (0.70%) in relation to the first quarter of 2006.

In the second quarter of 2006, the highlights in terms of cattle slaughter were the following states: Mato Grosso (15.59%), São Paulo (13.79%) and Mato Grosso do Sul (12.85%). In spite of showing signs of recovery, the little expansion of slaughter may have resulted from difficulties in the commercialization of the production, as a consequence of the occurrence of spots of foot-and-mouth disease in the Central West and South Regions of Brazil. According to information from the Department of International Trade (Secex) the exports of bovine meat, in the second quarter of 2006, decreased by 9.05% in relation to the same period last year.

Number of pullets slaughtered decreases

In the second quarter, 873,618 million pullets were slaughtered. The slaughter of pullets faced the following negative changes: -13.90% in relation to the first quarter of 2006 and  -8.00% in relation to the equivalent period in 2005. These results are related to the occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease in the end of last year, and to the avian influenza, which led several establishments to give the employees collective vacation or reduce the number of working days in the period.

Still in the second quarter, in comparison with the same period in the previous year, the exports of chicken meat also reflected fall in revenue (-23.97%) and in volume (-17.58%).

Slaughter of hogs and pigs increases by 4.96%

In the second quarter, 6,121 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, an increase of 4.96% in relation to the first quarter of 2006, and of 4.79% in relation to the second quarter of 2005.

The highlights in terms of slaughter of hogs and pigs were: Santa Catarina (29.75%), Rio Grande do Sul (23.97%) and Paraná (15.96%). It is worth mentioning that in the states of Amazonas, Amapá, Roraima and Tocantins there is no information about the slaughter of hogs and pigs in establishments under federal, state or municipal inspection, which are those within the range of the survey.

Still in the second quarter, in relation to the same period in the previous year, the volume of swine meat exported decreased by 34% and the revenue fell by 28%. Since January 2006 there have been negative results for the volume exported and for revenue. This weak performance may explained by the embargo of Russia, the main swine meat purchaser, to Brazilian meat.

Volume of milk acquired by industry falls

In the second quarter, the volume of milk acquired by industry was 3,830 billion liters. This number represents reductions of -8.37%, in comparison with the first quarter of 2006, and of -1.19%, in comparison with the second quarter of 2005.

The exports of unprocessed milk increased in the second quarter of 2006, in relation to the first quarter, by about 136,1%. It is important to point out that the external sales of this product increased, mainly, in the months of May and June. However, in relation to 2005, the exports in terms of volume of unprocessed milk fell by 7.35%.

Powdered milk, which makes up the biggest part of the volume exported, faced reduction by 0.46% in terms of international commercialization in the second semester, compared to the first semester of 2006. In relation to the second semester of 2005, there was 62.49% of increase.

In the second quarter, 10,542 million leather pieces were acquired. This figure represents an increase of 5,54%, in relation to the immediately previous quarter, and of 7.97%, in relation to the second quarter of 2005. Concerning industrialized leather, the changes were 3.32% compared to figures in the first quarter of 2006, and 8.87% compared to figures in the second quarter of 2005. A total of 10,506 million leather pieces were processed.

Production of hen’s eggs increases by 0.97%

In the second quarter of 2006, 515,480 million dozens of hen’s eggs were obtained. This result represents an increase of 0.97% in comparison with the first quarter of 2006 and of 3.15% in relation to the second quarter of 2005. It is important to highlight that the survey investigates locations with 10,000 or more laying hens, regardless of the final destination of the production.

In terms of national production, the highlights were the states of São Paulo, with 34.22% of the overall production, Minas Gerais, with 13.18% and Paraná, with 9.42%.