According to IBGE’s Livestock Production Statistics, chicken slaughtering and milk production increased in the same period.

According to IBGE’s Livestock Production Statistics, chicken slaughtering and milk production increased in the same period.

In the first quarter of 2008, the slaughtering of 7,155 thousand cattle head, pointing to decrease of 10.1% in relation to the same period in 2007, and of 3.1%, in relation to the 4^th semester this year, reflected the reduced availability of live cattle for freezers. Among the months in the current quarter, March had the biggest decrease in the number of animals slaughtered (-17.6%) in relation to the previous year. This decrease of volume of sales interrupted a growing trend of cattle slaughtering in the 1^st quarter, which had been observed since the beginning of the survey in 1997 (Graph 1). Since last year, the amount of animals slaughtered has decreased every quarter, following the scarce offer of live cattle, the prices of which have risen since then.¹

In the 1^st quarter of 2008, compared to the same quarter last year, the states of Mato Grosso, São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul, which accounted, together, for 38.8% of the total animals slaughtered, also had the biggest decreases in the volume of slaughtering, in absolute figures, making up a total of 567.5 thousand animals slaughtered. In this same period, Rio Grande do Sul had the most significant relative reduction (-22.7%). Also in this comparison, the Northeast Region was the only one to have increase in slaughtering (5.3%), affected by the result of Bahia (7.3%), the main producer of beef in the Northeast.

In relation to the 4^th quarter, all the categories had decreases in the number of animals slaughtered, except cow, with increase of 24.4% and heifers, with increase of 26.7%.²

Chickens

In the first quarter of 2008, the slaughtering of 1.184 billion units of chickens represented increase of 12.2% in relation to the first quarter of 2007, and increase of 3.2% in comparison with the 4^th quarter last year. The increase was mainly observed in the months of January (14.9%) and February (19.8%). In March, the volume slaughtered increased 3.2% in relation to march 2007, reducing the average rate of the quarter.³

Hogs and Pigs

In the 1^st quarter of 2008 a total of 6.824 million units of hogs and pigs were slaughtered, representing increase of 2.7% in relation to the same period in 2007, and decrease of 2.0% in relation to the 4^th quarter last year. March marked the lowest performance of the quarter, compared to the same period last year.

In relation to the same quarter last year, the states of Bahia and São Paulo presented significant decreases in the slaughtering of hogs and pigs (-26.2% and -13.4%, respectively), whereas Goiás and Minas Gerais had increments of 27.2% and 10.5%.⁴

Acquisition of Milk

In the 4^th quarter of 2008 were acquired 4.893 billion liters of milk by companies under sanitary inspection at federal, state or municipal levels. This amount indicates an increase of acquisition of 9.2% in relation to the 1^st quarter of 2007, and decrease of 1.1% in relation to the 4^th quarter last year. The volume of processed milk was 4.880 billion liters, which represents increase of 9.3% in relation to the 1^st quarter of 2007, and decrease of 0.9% in relation to the 4^th quarter of 2007.

Real prices charged to the producer were favorable throughout 2007 compared to those in 2006, resulting in positive contribution to milk production, according to a survey conducted by Cepea.⁵ 

Leather Acquisition

In the first quarter of 2008, 9.694 whole pieces of bovine rawhide were acquired/received by tanneries; there were decreases (10.6% and 0.3%, respectively) in comparison with the 1^st and 4^th quarters of 2007. This amount of leather is 35% bigger than that of cattle slaughtered in the period, being the difference caused by slaughtering not registered by the survey, which occurs when leather pieces are sent to outsourced tanneries. In fact, the 2.249 million pieces received for outsourced tanning represented 23% of the total acquired/received and, considering only the quantity of pieces acquired by tanneries (7.446 million), the figures are very close to those of cattle slaughtering (7.155 million, that is 4% more).

Considering tanned leather there were reports of 9.770 million units, indicating decrease of 10.4% compared to the same period in 2007, and increase of 0.8% in relation to the 4th quarter last year. This amount of tanned leather, above the quantity acquired and received, results from the use of previously stored leather.

Production of Hen’s Eggs

In the first quarter of 2008 were produced 570.5 thousand dozens of hen’s eggs by the producing units with a number of laying hens above 10,000, considering incubation eggs and eggs for the production of breeders or consumption.

The comparison between the volume of production in the 1^st quarter of 2008 and the amount obtained in the same period in 2007 points to increase of production of 8.2%. In relation to the 4^th quarter of 2007, there was increase of 2.6% in production. These increases are partially related to the bigger production of chickens, whose slaughtering has increased continuously in the latest quarters.

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¹ The lack of animals for slaughtering kept prices high throughout the semester, and the ESALQ/BM&F indicator reached R$ 76.19 in March, according to Cepea (http://cepea.esalq.usp.br/).

² In the external market of beef there was reduction of the volume exported of 27.6% in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. On the other hand, turnover increased 5.2%, which made up for the reduction of traded volume. The average price of the ton of beef was US$3,528 in the period, versus US$2,426 in 2007 (Secex).

³ In the external market, there was increase of 12.6% in the external trade of chickens in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007. In this same comparison, turnover increased 47.1%. The average price of the ton of chickens in the 1st quarter of 2008 was US$1,233 versus US$1,192 in the same period of 2007 (Secex).

⁴ In the external market there was reduction of the traded volume of chickens in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in 2007 (-6.9%). Turnover, on the other hand, increased by 16.4%, reflecting the rise of the average price of the ton of this product, which changed from US$1,940 to US$2,466 in the periods compared (Secex).

⁵ In the external market there was increase of the trade volume of volume of milk in natura in the 1st quarter of 2008, compared to the same period in the pervious year. As for turnover, the increase was 49.6%. As a consequence, the average price of a ton of milk in the quarter was US$1,733 versus US$1,283 in the previous year, with increase of 35.1%. In terms of powdered milk, which has a higher trade value compared to milk in natura, there was increase of 25.6% in volume and 140.3% in turnover (Secex). Powdered milk is the main product of the balance of basic milk products in Brazil, followed by condensed milk.