In relation to 2006, the slaughtering of cattle increased only 0.6%, while the slaughtering of pullets increased 10.9% and the slaughtering of hogs and pigs 6.5%.  The acquisition of cattle leather decreased 2.6% and the production of hen’s eggs increased 2.2%. 

Animal production in 2007 – Cattle

During 2007, 30.5 million heads of cattle were slaughtered, an increase of 0.6% in relation to 2006.  The states which most slaughtered cattle in the year of 2007 were Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.

In the whole year there was a commercialization of 1.3 million metric tons of cattle.  According to the Bureau of Foreign Trade (Secex), the 4th quarter was the one in which there was the lowest volume of exported cattle.  On the other hand the highest levels of commercialization occurred in the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2007.  Consequently, in the second semester a decrease of approximately 16.0% in relation to the first semester was observed.  In relation to the indicator accumulated in the year 2006, there was an increase of 4.9% in the volume exported.  The average price of the metric ton of cattle closed the year in US$ 2,711 compared to US$ 2,558 in 2006.

Pullets

In the indicator accumulated in the year, 4.4 billion metric tons of pullets were slaughtered in the Brazilian market. Comparing with the previous year there was an increase of 10.9% in the volume slaughtered.  Regarding the weight of the carcass, the change was positive in 10.1%.

The growth of 10.9% in the volume of slaughtered pullets in 2007, compared to 2006, occurred in part due to the decrease of slaughtering in 2006, caused by the existence of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease in other countries, in the first semester.  The decrease in the sales of pullets in the foreign market occurred even without the occurrence of avian influenza in the Country.

In the result accumulated of the year, 3.0 million metric tons of pullets were commercialized, an increase of 16.3% in volume in relation to the year of 2006.   The average price of the metric ton of pullets in the year of 2007 was US$ 1,403 compared to US$ 1,130 in 2006 (Secex).  When the comparison was made between the first and second semester of 2007, an increase of 7.4% in the exported volume could be observed.

 Hogs and Pigs  

In the year 2007, 26.8 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, an increase of 6.5% in relation to the year 2006.  The carcass weight had an increase of 6.0% in this period.

In the index accumulated in the year 2007, 552.2 thousand metric tons of hogs and pigs were commercialized in the foreign market, an increase of 14.0% in relation to the indicator accumulated in the year 2006.  The average price of the metric ton of hogs and pigs closed the year being sold at US$ 2,104 compared to US$ 2,045 in the same period of 2006. Comparing the 1st and 2nd semesters an increase of 15.7% in the volume exported of hogs and pigs was recorded.

 Milk acquisition

In 2007, 17.8 billion liters of milk were acquired, representing an increase of 7.0% in relation to 2006.  In 2007, 17.7 billion liters of industrialized milk were obtained, an increase of 6.9% in relation to 2006.

In the total result of the year 7.7 thousand metric tons of milk in natura was commercialized with the foreign market.  In relation to 2006 there was increase of 53.7% in the volume commercialized of the product.  The average price of the metric ton of milk in natura in 2007 was US$ 1,266, compared to US$ 1,172 in 2006.

 In the total result of 2007, 75.4 thousand metric tons of powdered milk were commercialized abroad, an increase of 2.8% in relation to 2006.   The average price of the metric ton of powdered milk in 2007 was US$ 2,982 compared to US$ 1,466 in the year of 2006. Comparing the first and second semesters of 2007, an increase of 48.6% in the volume exported was recorded.

 Leather acquisition

 In the total result of the year, 41.6 million units of cattle leather were acquired, a decrease of 2.6% in relation to the result obtained in the year of 2006.

 Hen’s Eggs Production

 In 2007, 2.2 billion dozen of hen’s eggs were acquired, which represented a growth of 2.2% in relation to 2006.  Comparing the months of the two years, it can be observed a growth in production in all of them, with the exception of August, in which a negative change of 0.1% was registered.

Animal Production in the 4th quarter of 2007 / Cattle

 In the 4th quarter of 2007, 7.2 million heads of cattle were slaughtered, representing reductions of 7.5% and 4.9% of the volume slaughtered in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and to the 3rd quarter of 2007, respectively.  Comparing to the 4th quarter of 2006, decreases could be observed in all the categories of cattle, with the exception of bulls and male calves.   The major reductions of slaughtering occurred with heifers (24.9%) and bullocks (14.9%).  Cows also had a significant decrease (16.1%).

 These data confirm the trend of reduction of the growth of the slaughtering of animals observed since 2004 and which increased in 2005.  This fact, together with the reduction of the slaughtering of young animals and the increase in the prices of calves may have represented the end of a livestock cycle and the beginning of the herd replacement. 

 The high growth of cow slaughtering from 2002 to 2004 reduced the capacity of herd replacement, which may explain the current situation of high prices and the reduced supply of calves. 

The total weight of the cattle carcasses in the fourth quarter of 2007 was 1.7 million metric tons, a decrease of 6.9% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and of 6.0% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

 The main states in slaughtering of cattle in the 4th quarter of 2007 were: Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul.  In November, according to the Normative Act number 53, seventeen Brazilian states were included in the area free from foot-and-mouth disease with vaccination, including Mato Grosso do Sul.  However, the identification of one or more cases of the disease caused the suspension of the classification during a determined period of time. Santa Catarina was the only state classified as free from foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination.

 Pullets

 In the 4th quarter of 2007, 1.1 billion pullets were slaughtered, representing an increase of 12.3% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 4.7% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

 In relation to the weight of the carcasses, the result was 2.4 million metric tons.  Consequently, the increase was 17.1% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 7.1% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

 The main states which slaughtered pullets in the 4th quarter of 2007 were: Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo.

Hogs and Pigs

In the 4th quarter of 2007, 6.8 million hogs and pigs were slaughtered, representing an increase of production of 2.8% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and decrease of 0.1% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

Regarding the weight of the carcasses, the result was 610.2 thousand metric tons.  Comparing with the 4th quarter of 2006 there was increase of 2.0%, and decrease of the same percentage, in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

The main states in slaughtering of hogs and pigs were: Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná.

 Acquisition of Milk

 In the 4th quarter of 2007, the industrial establishments acquired 4.9 billion liters of milk, representing increases in the acquisition of milk of 6.2% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 10.3% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

Regarding the industrialized milk there was a result of approximately 4.9 billion liters, an increase of 6.2% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006, and 10.4% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007. 

The main states to receive crude milk were Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo.

 Acquisition of Leather

In the 4th quarter of 2007, 9.6 million units of crude leather were acquired according to the Quarterly Survey of Leather.  Decreases of 11.9% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 6.9% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007 were registered.

Regarding the tanned leather of the establishments investigated by the survey, there was a production of 9.6 million units.  Decreases of 13.0% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 6.8% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007 were recorded.

 The states of São Paulo, Mato Grosso and Rio Grande do Sul were the ones which most acquired leather in the 4th quarter of 2007.

Hen’s Eggs 

In the 4th quarter of 2007, 550.8 million dozen hen’s eggs were produced, which represented an increase of 3.3% in relation to the 4th quarter of 2006 and 1.2% in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2007.

The states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Paraná were those which most produced eggs in the 4th quarter of 2007.