In the third quarter of 2007, the acquisition of milk by industry was 4.4 billion liters, an increase of 10.2% compared to the second quarter (3.9 billion liters) and of 11.6% in relation to the same period in 2006 (4.0 billion liters).

In the third quarter of 2007, the acquisition of milk by industry was 4.4 billion liters, an increase of 10.2% compared to the second quarter (3.9 billion liters) and of 11.6% in relation to the same period in 2006 (4.0 billion liters). A total of 7.6 million head of cattle were slaughtered, representing decrease of 1.5% in relation to the second quarter of 2007 (7.7 million) and of 4.0% in comparison with the third quarter of 2006 (7.9 million). Chicken slaughter and the production of eggs also increased, by 2.0% and 1.3%, in the third quarter of this year and compared to the previous one.

Cattle slaughter decreased in the third quarter

In the third quarter of 2007, 7.617 million cattle head were slaughtered all over the country. This figure represented decrease of 1.5% (117.3 thousand head) in comparison with the second quarter and of 4.0% (320.7 thousand head) in comparison with the third quarter of the previous year. Except for bulls, all the categories faced decrease of the number of animals slaughtered compared to the figure in the second quarter of 2007. The slaughter of cows decreased 17.5% in the third quarter, pointing to reduction of the high slaughter levels of female animals, which was one of the factors accounting for the reduction of 0.6% of the cattle herd in the country in 2006. The proportion of cows in relation to the total number of cattle head slaughtered changed from 37.1%, in the second quarter, to a current figure of 31.1%. Together with this change, the slaughter of vealers and calves fell by 22.1% and 1.1%, respectively; the slaughter of bulls increased by 12.9%.

In comparison with the third quarter of 2006, there was increase of bull (6.4%) and vealer slaughter (31.9%). In the same period, cow slaughter fell by 14.7%; calf slaughter by 13.7% and heifer slaughter by 14.2%. The biggest negative changes in terms of cattle slaughter in the third quarter of 2007, compared to the same period in the previous year, occurred in Rio Grande do Sul (50.3%), Maranhão (16.2%), Paraná (14.3%), Tocantins (13.4%), Santa Catarina (8.7%), São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul (both with decrease of 7.2%). In Rio Grande do Sul, the price of animals reached a record level; the lack of animals for slaughter caused it the activity in the sector to be reduced by about 80%.

Chicken slaughter increased 2.0% in comparison with the second quarter

In the third quarter of 2007, 1.1 billion chickens were slaughtered, representing increase of 2.0% in relation to the second quarter of this year and of 8.4% compared to the third quarter of 2006. The slaughter of chickens occurred mainly in the establishments under federal, state and municipal regulation (92.8%, 5.6% and 1.6%, respectively). The states which slaughtered most chickens in Brazil were Paraná (25.45), Santa Catarina (19.3%) ad Rio Grande do Sul (16.6%). The total weight of carcasses increased by 1.7% in relation to the second quarter of 2007 and 7.1% compared to the third quarter of 2006.

In the third quarter, 6.8 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered

In the third quarter of 2007, 6.8 units of hogs and pigs were slaughtered, representing increase of 3.1% over the previous quarter and of 3.6% in comparison with the third quarter of 2006. From the total slaughtered, over half (89.4%) was under federal, 8.2% under state and 2.4% under municipal regulation. The main states in terms of hogs and pigs slaughter were Santa Catarina (27.9%), Rio Grande do Sul (25.4%) and Paraná (16.9%). Considering the weight of carcasses, there were positive changes both in relation to the second quarter of 2007 (2.4%) and in relation to the third quarter of 2006 (1.5%).

Acquisition of milk by industry increased 10.2%

Industry acquired 4.4 billion liters of milk in the third quarter of 2007, 10.2% more than in the second quarter of this year and 11.6% more than the amount obtained in the third quarter of 2006. Minas Gerais was the state which acquired the major quantity of milk in the third quarter of 2007, having obtained 27.2% of the national total. This figure was followed by Rio Grande do Sul (15.9%) and São Paulo (12.2%). Despite the increase of production, the prices of dairy products remained high in the period, both in the internal and in the external market. The cost of milk production in Brazil increased in the third quarter of 2007, due, partly, to the rise of input prices, for example, the corn used in concentrated animal food.

Considering industrialized milk, there were increases of 10.1% (second quarter of 2007) and of 11.3% (third quarter of 2006), together with the increase of milk acquisition observed in the period.

In the third quarter, 10.9 million units of bovine rawhide were acquired

In the third quarter of 2007, 10.9 million leather pieces were acquired, considering only the establishments which acquire at least five thousand whole pieces of bovine rawhide per year. Compared to figures in the second quarter of 2007, leather acquisition increased by 1.6%. This positive change, opposite to the reduction of cattle head slaughtered, resulted in increase of the difference between leather acquisition and cattle slaughter from 38.8%, in the second quarter of 2007, to 42.7%, currently. In comparison with the third quarter of 2006, there was increase of 1.7%. Considering the total number of leather acquired by tanneries, 20.9% were obtained in São Paulo, followed by Mato Grosso (13.3%). In terms of tanned leather, there was industrialization of 10.8 million pieces, pointing to increase of 1.6% of tanning compared to the second quarter of 2007 and decrease of 1.3% compared to the third quarter of 2006.  

Production of eggs increased 1.3% in the third quarter of 2007

In the third quarter of this year, 544.0 million dozens of hen’s eggs were produced, with increase of 1.3% in relation to the second quarter of 2007 and of 0.7% in relation to the third quarter of last year. The main producing state of hen’s eggs was São Paulo, accounting for 32.2% of the national production in the third quarter of 2007. Minas Gerais, the second main producing state, provided 13.4% of the total number of  this type of egg.