In the 2nd quarter of 2020, 7.30 million cattle head were slaughtered, an amount 8.0% lower than that obtained in the 2nd quarter of 2019 and 0.3% above that recorded in the 1st quarter of 2020. It is the lowest result for a 2nd quarter since 2011, taking into account the time series started in 1997.

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, 1.41 billion chicken were slaughtered, a 1.0% decrease compared to the same period in 2019 and a 6.8% decrease compared to the 1st quarter of 2020. This is the worst result for a quarter since the 2nd quarter of 2018.

The 2nd quarter of 2020 recorded the slaughter of 12.10 million hogs and pigs, an increase of 6.2% over the same period in 2019 and an increase of 1.8% compared to the first quarter of 2020.

The acquisition of raw milk was 5.76 billion liters in the second quarter of 2020, equivalent to a reduction of 1.7% in relation to the second quarter of 2019 and a decrease of 9.3% compared to the previous quarter. Considering the time series, which started in 1997, the result represents the third largest milk intake accumulated in a 2nd quarter, surpassed only by the equivalent periods of 2019 and 2014.

The production of hen eggs was 974.15 million dozens in the second quarter of 2020, a number 2.8% higher than that recorded in the second quarter of 2019 and 0.3% above that recorded in the previous quarter

Slaughter of hogs and pigs is the lowest for a Q2 since 2011

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, 7.30 million head of hogs and pigs were slaughtered under some kind of health inspection service. This amount was 8.0% lower than that of the 2nd quarter of 2019 and 0.3% higher than the previous quarter. It is the lowest result for a second quarter since 2011. In the monthly comparison, April recorded the highest slump in relation to 2019, with 15.1% less of slaughtered heads. On the other hand, in June there was increase of 1.8%. The lockdown started at the end of March 2020, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, might be the cause of the major impact in the following month, because of  the sector adaptation to this adverse scenario.

The decrease of 638.11 thousand heads in cattle slaughter in the second quarter of 2020 in relation to the same period of the previous year was leveraged by reductions in 22 out of the 27 Federation Units (UFs). Among those with participation above 1.0%, the major reductions occurred in: Mato Grosso (-165.71 thousand head), Pará (-92.23 thousand head), Mato Grosso do Sul (-75.54 thousand head), Rondônia (-67.64 thousand head), Bahia (-51.51 thousand head), São Paulo (-34.88 thousand head), Goiás (-32.30 thousand head), Rio Grande do Sul (-31.88 thousand head), Tocantins (-22.05 thousand head), Maranhão (-17.40 thousand head) and Acre (16.96 thousand head). In contrast, the highest positive changes were in: Santa Catarina (+14.06 thousand head) and Minas Gerais (+10.04 thousand head).

In the Federation Units ranking, Mato Grosso still leads cattle slaughter, with 16.0% of national participation, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (11.5%) and São Paulo (10.7%).

Exports help slaughter of hogs and pigs to achieve record

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, 12.10 million head of hogs and pigs were slaughtered, representing growth of 6.2% in relation to the same period of 2019 and of 1.8% in the comparison with the 1st quarter of 2020. In the monthly comparison, it  recorded the best result for a month of June. The result is a record in the time series. The exports of hogs and pigs, also a record for the 2nd quarter, contributed to the sector in the middle of the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The increase of 708.61 thousand head of hogs and pigs in the second quarter of 2020, in relation to the same period of the previous year, was leveraged by the increase in the slaughter sector in 11 out of the 25 Federation Units in the survey. Among the Federation units with participation above 1.0%, the increases occurred in: Santa Catarina (+371.38 thousand head), Paraná (+230.33 thousand head), Minas Gerais (+138.38 thousand head), Mato Grosso (+41.83 thousand head), Mato Grosso do Sul (+29.04 thousand head) and São Paulo (+2.51 thousand head). In contrast, the falls occurred in: Rio Grande do Sul (-76.49 thousand head) and Goiás (-47.09 thousand head).

In the Federation Units ranking, Santa Catarina still leads the slaughter of hogs and pigs, with 28.4% of national participation, followed by Paraná (20.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (16.6%).

Shutdowns due to the pandemic impact on the falls in chicken slaughter

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, 1.41 billion  chicken head were slaughtered, a fall of 1.0% in relation to the same period of 2019 and a rebound of 6.8% in the comparison with the 1st quarter of 2020. It is the worst result for a quarter since the 2nd quarter of 2018. The effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, as the temporary shutdowns to avoid the spread, which have impacted the production of slaughterhouses, also explain the recorded falls. 

The decrease of 19.79 million chicken head in the 2nd quarter of 2020, in relation to the same period in the previous year, was leveraged by the fall in the slaughter sector in 12 out of the 25 Federation Units in the survey. Among those with participation above 1.0%, the falls occurred in: Rio Grande do Sul (-20.75 million head), Goiás (-13.75 million head), Santa Catarina (-8.35 million head), Pará (-2.96 million head) and Mato Grosso (-2.47 million head). On the other hand, the growths were in: Paraná (+25.12 million head), Minas Gerais (+3.21 million head), Bahia (+2.36 million head), Mato Grosso do Sul (+2.28 million head) and São Paulo (+1.45 million head). 

In the Federation Units ranking, Paraná still leads the slaughter of chickens, with 34.2% of the national participation, followed by Santa Catarina (13.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (12.9%).

Raw milk acquisition rebounds both against the Q1 2020 and Q2 2019

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, the acquisition of raw milk by establishments that work under some kind of health inspection (Federal, Estate, Municipal) was of 5.76 billion liters – a result that represents reduction of 1.7% in relation to the 2nd quarter of 2019 and retraction of 9.3% in comparison with the 1st quarter of 2019. The 2nd quarters usually record the lowest acquisition , due to the off-season stage in the main milk producers in the country. The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic also impacted the sector, reducing the consumption of dairy products. However, considering the time series, started in 1997, the result presents the third highest cumulative acquisition of milk for a 2nd quarter, surpassed by the same periods in the previous year and 2014. The month with higher acquisition in the 2nd quarter of 2020, was April, which accounted for 1.94 billion liters of milk.

In the comparison of the 2nd quarter of 2020 against the same period of 2019, the decrease of 102.06 million liters of milk acquired in national scale is due to reductions recorded in 16 out of the 26 Federation Units in the Quarterly Survey of Milk Production. In the level of Federation Units, the major reductions occurred in Goiás (-45.16 million liters), Rio Grande do Sul (-44.38 million liters), Paraná (-31.97 million liters), Rio de Janeiro (-13.44 million liters) and São Paulo (-9.57 million liters). On the other hand, the major highs were in Sergipe (+18.89 million liters), Rondônia (+18.27 million liters) and Bahia (14.84 million liters).

Minas Gerais still leads the ranking of milk acquisition, with 25.4% of the national acquisition, followed by Paraná (12.8%) and Rio Grande do Sul (12.2%).

Acquisition of leather decreases 12.8% against Q2 2019

In the 2nd quarter of 2020, the tanneries recorded 7.32 million rawhide pieces, a reduction of 12.8% in relation to the 2nd quarter of 2019 and a decrease of 3.3% against the 1st quarter of 2020. This result is related with the decrease in the cattle slaughter sector recorded in April and May. April presented the lowest acquisition in the period, with 2.20 million pieces, 21.6% less than the recorded rate in the same month of the previous year. It is worth mentioning that the Quarterly Survey of Leather surveys only tanneries that tan at least 5 thousand whole units of raw cowhide per year.

In the comparison between the 2nd quarter of 2020 and the 2nd quarter of 2019 shows negative change of 1.07 million pieces acquired by the establishments, due to the reduction in 15 out of the 19 Federation Units that have tanneries in conditions of being included in the survey. The major negative change occurred in Rio Grande do Sul (-246.57 thousand pieces), Mato Grosso (-205.23 thousand pieces), Mato Grosso do Sul (-197.88 thousand pieces), São Paulo (-181.85 thousand pieces) and Pará (-134.38 thousand pieces).

Mato Grosso still leads in the ranking of Federation Units that receive rawhides for processing, with 16.1% of the national participation, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (13.9%) and São Paulo (11.2%).

Economy helps explain increase in the hen eggs production

The hen eggs production was 974.15 million dozen in the 2nd quarter of 2020, a number 2.8% higher than the recorded in 2nd quarter of 2019 and 0.3% above  the previous quarter. The production peak occurred in May, when it accounted for 326.73 million dozen, 2.0% more than the production in the same month of 2019. Periods of economic recession, like the social distancing period due to the Covid-19 pandemic, tend to increase the consumption of hen eggs, since they are a cheaper source of proteins than meat.

The production of 26.34 million dozen more hen eggs, in national scale, in the comparison of the 1st quarters of 2020/2019, was leveraged by the increase in 18 out of the 25 Federation Units in broiler farms covered by the survey. The sharpest growth occurred in São Paulo (+6.35 million dozen), Mato Grosso (+5.80 million dozen), Santa Catarina (+4.43 million dozen), Paraná (+4.26 million dozen), Rio Grande do Sul (+3.94 million dozen) and Bahia (+3.60 million dozen). On the contrary, the major reductions occurred in Minas Gerais (-6.45 million dozen), Goiás (-1.58 million dozen) and Espírito Santo (-1.12 million dozen).

During the first quarter of 2020, São Paulo held the position of biggest producer of hen eggs among the Federation Units, with 29.1% of the national production, followed by Paraná (9.3%) and Espirito Santo (9.2%).