In the 3rd quarter of 2012, a total 8,027 million cattle head were slaughtered, representing increase of 5.0% over the immediately previous quarter and of 10.2% over the same period in 2011. This was the highest figure reached by the Quarterly Survey of Animal Slaughter - which was first released in 1997 - surpassing the figure of 7,957 million cattle head, in the first semester of 2007. This result was due, among other reasons, to the fall of beef prices (-4.1% from January to September) and to the increase of exports (16.9% in Q3 versus the previous one). In Q3 2012 were also slaughtered 9,493 hogs and pigs, representing increases of 7.4% over the immediately previous quarter and of 4.7% over the same period in 2011. The slaughter of chickens (1.340 billion head) increased by 5.2% in relation to Q2 and decreased by 0.7% over the same period in 2011. The amount of milk acquired by industry in the quarter was 5.526 billion liters, with increase of 5.6% in relation to the second quarter of 2012 and of 3.5% to the same quarter in 2011. The acquisition of leather by tanneries also rose in the 3rd quarter, in comparison with the equivalent period in 2011 (6.0%). The production of hen’s eggs was 667.8 million dozens, which means increase of 4.2% in relation to the same period in 2011. These and other data are available in the results for the Q3 2012 results of the Quarterly Surveys of Animal Slaughter and Production of Milk, Leather and Eggs.  The complete publication is available at www.ibge.gov.br/english/estatistica/indicadores/agropecuaria/producaoagropecuaria/default.shtm

Cattle slaughter in Q3 increases by 0.5% over Q2 and by 10.2% over Q2 2011

In Q3 2012, cattle slaughter reached the record figure of 8,207 million head slaughtered, the highest rank in the time series which started in 1997. This result surpassed that of Q1 2007 (7,957 head slaughtered). This figure was 5.0% bigger than that of the immediately previous quarter and 10.2% bigger than that of the same period in 2011.

The accumulated weight of carcasses, also a record figure, was 1,911 million metric tons in Q3 2012. This figure was 6.2% bigger than in the immediately previous quarter and 9.7% above that of the same period of 2011. The highest figure in the time series for accumulated weight of cattle carcasses, since the beginning of the survey, in 1997, had been reached in the 2^nd quarter of 2010, 1,828 million metric tons.

Some reasons have contributed to the records of 3^rd quarter of 2012, for instance, the fall of beef prices and the increase of exports. Beef recorded average deflation of 4.1% from January to September 2011 (IPCA), whereas the prices of its mains substitutes, pork (2.05%), fish (6.34%) and poultry and eggs, recorded increase. The exports of unprocessed beef, according to data of the Secretariat of Foreign Trade (Secex), recorded, from the 2nd to the 3rd quarter, increase of 16.9%, with main Russia (26%), Egypt (17%), Iran (14%), Hong Kong (9%), Chile (6%), Venezuela (5%) and saudi Arabia (3%) accounting for 80% of the exports of unprocessed beef in Brazil. São Paulo (27%), Mato Grosso (18%), Goiás (16%), Mato Grosso do Sul (11%), Rondônia (9%) and Minas Gerais (7%) accounted for 90% of the volume exported in Q3 2012.

In the comparison between the third quarters of 2012 and 2011, the Northeast Region was the only one to record decrease of cattle slaughter, mainly due to the decrease of 26.8% of cattle slaughter in Pernambuco.  The Central West had 38.6% of the national slaughter, with increment of 14.5% over Q3 2011; the Southeast Region, for 20.8%, with increment of 12.7%; the North, for 18.7%, with increment of 3.0% and the South, for 11.9%, with increment of 14.8%.

Slaughter of hogs and pigs in Mato Grosso increased by 33.7% in the Q3/Q2 comparison

In Q3 2012 a total 9,493 million head of hogs and pigs were slaughtered, representing increases of 7.4% over the immediately previous quarter and of 4.7% over the same period in 2011. The accumulated weight of carcasses was also a record in the third quarter of 2012, reaching 923,097 thousand metric tons. This figure was 5.7% bigger than that of the immediately previous quarter and 5.3% bigger than that of the same period in 2011, when this group reached its best result since the beginning of the survey. 

The South region accounted for 63.7% of the national slaughter of hogs and pigs in Q3 2012, followed by the Southeast (17.6%), Central West (17.4%), Northeast (1.2%) and North (0.1%).  Compared with Q2 2012, in spite of the decline of the South region in terms of national classification, Paraná had increment of 11.0% in the slaughter of hogs and pigs.  In Mato Grosso, the number of head slaughtered increased by 33.7%, and in Minas Gerais, by 8.7%.  

In Q3 2012, a total 1,340 million head of chickens were slaughtered, 66.2 million more than in the previous quarter, which represented increase of 5.2%. In comparison with the same period of 2011, there was a 0.7% decline.

Slaughter of chickens increases by 5.2% in comparison with figure in Q2

In Q3 2012 a total 1,340 billion head of chickens were slaughtered, that is, 66.2 million more head than in the immediately previous quarter, which represented increment of 5.%.  In comparison with the same period in n2011, there was decrease of 0.7%.

The accumulated weight of carcasses reached a record level in the 3^rd quarter of 2012, with 2,994 million metric tons, due to the increase of the average weight the carcass. This figure was 3.5% bigger than that of the immediately previous quarter and 2.3% bigger than that of the same period in 2011.

From July to September 2012, the three states of the South Region slaughtered 58.4% of the national total, more than twice as the total in the Southeast Region (21.3%).  In comparison  with Q2 2012, Rio Grande do Sul slaughtered 26.3% (39,540 million head) more units of chickens. Mato Grosso recorded increase of 27.1% or 15,847 million head, and both states contributed a great deal to the recovery of slaughter in this quarter.

Acquisition of milk is 5.6% bigger than in the 2nd quarter of 2011

The acquisition of raw milk in Q3 2012 corresponded to 5,526 billion liters, indicating increase both in relation to the 3rd quarter of 2011 (3.5%) and to the 2nd quarter of the current year (5.6%). Minas Gerais is the state with the biggest acquisition of milk, representing 23.4% of the total. Other highlights are Rio Grande do Sul, with 17.8%, Paraná with 12.1% and São Paulo, with 10.6%.

Acquisition of cattle rawhide was stable in relation to Q2 2011

Tanneries acquired 9,020 million cattle pieces, in Q3 2012, according to the Quarterly Survey of Leather.  This figure points to increase of 6.0% in the acquisition of this product versus Q3 2011 and almost stability in relation to Q2 2012. A total 9,046 million pieces of rawhide were tanned, a fact which suggests the use of previously stored material or the occurrence of external purchase.  It is important to mention that, starting in 2012, this survey now only investigates rawhide of national origin.

In regional terms, the total acquisition of rawhide was structured as follows: Central West (40.1%), South (19.9%), Southeast (17.4%), North (16.5%) and Northeast (6.2%).

Production of hen’s eggs records increase of 4.2 % in relation to 2011

The production of hen’s eggs was 677.8 million dozens in the 3^rd quarter of 2012, with increase of 4.2% over the same period in 2011. As for the 2^nd quarter of 2012, there was stability of production (0.8%). São Paulo was the main producing state, representing 29.4% of the eggs overall produced in Q3 2012. Other highlights were Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, with relative participation of 10.7% and 7.1%.  As a result, the Southeast Region accounted for 47.5% of the national production.  Also relevant were production increases, over Q3 2011, recorded in Espírito Santo (21.9%), Santa Catarina (17.0%), Mato Grosso (14.3%) and Pernambuco (11.2%).