In Q3 2020, 7.69 million cattle head were slaughtered, a figure 9.5% below that of Q3 2019 and 4.6% above that of Q2 2020. It is the lowest result for a Q3 since 2016.

A total 1.51 billion chickens were slaughtered in Q3 2020, with increases of 2.8% against the same period in 2019 and of 7.0% from Q2 2020. The performance of the sector was close to the record level of Q1 2020, before the implementation of social distancing measures.

In Q3, there was slaughter of 12.71 million head of hogs and pigs, with increases of 8.1% against the same period in 2019 and of 4.5% from Q2 2020.

Acquisition of raw milk amounted to 6.45 billion liters in Q3 2020, with increases of 2.6% against Q3 2019 and of 10.7% from Q2 2020. That is a record result, despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Production of hen eggs reached 1.01 billion dozen in Q3 2020, a figure 3.8% higher than a year ago and 3.6% above that in the immediately previous quarter. It is a record figure in the time series which started in 1987.

Cattle slaughter is the smallest for a Q3 since 2016

In Q3, slaughter was of 7.69 million head under some type of sanitary inspection. That amount was 9.5% below that of Q3 2019, but 4.6% above the figure in Q2 2020. That was the lowest result for a Q3 since 2016.

In the monthly comparison, August recorded the biggest decrease against 2019, with a 12.4% reduction in the number of slaughtered head. Restrictions to the supply of animals for slaughter, mainly females, has remained since the start of 2020. Despite decline in the activity in the annual comparison, in the months of July and August there were decreases in exports of beef.

Slaughter of 806.62 thousand head of cattle less in Q3 2020 against the same period in the previous year was influenced by decreases in 22 of the 27 Federation Units (UFs). Among those with participation above 1.0%, the most significant decreases took place in Mato Grosso (-116.44 thousand head), Minas Gerais (-95.79 thousand head), Mato Grosso do Sul (-89.00 thousand head), Rondônia (-78.33 thousand head), Bahia (-72.51 thousand head), Pará (-69.52 thousand head), São Paulo (-68.51 thousand head), Tocantins (-54.24 thousand head), Goiás (-50.47 thousand head) and Maranhão (-46.19 thousand head). On the other hand, the main positive changes took place in Santa Catarina (+21.46 thousand head) and Rio Grande do Sul (+4.55 thousand head).

Mato Grosso remains as number one in terms of cattle slaughter, with 18.4% of the national overall, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (11.1%) and São Paulo (10.5%).

With rise of exports, slaughter of hogs and pigs hits record figure

A total 12.71 million head of hogs and pigs were slaughtered in Q3 2020, which represents increases of 8.1% against Q3 2019 and of 4.5% from Q2 2020. That result is a record for the time series initiated in 1997, the main highlights being the months of July and August which registered the highest levels for the activity.

The coldest month in the year, usually coincide with the increase of slaughter, stimulated by the increase of domestic consumption. In addition to that, the record performance of exports of meat in the period also contributed to results of the sector.

Slaughter of 956.86 thousand head of hogs and pigs more in Q3 2020, against the same period in the previous year, was influenced by increased slaughter in 13 of the 25 Federation Units participating in the survey.

Among the states with a participation above 1.0%, increases took place in Santa Catarina (+543.42 thousand head), Paraná (+254.73 thousand head), Minas Gerais (+61.07 thousand head), Mato Grosso do Sul (+52,75 thousand head), Rio Grande do Sul (+20.91 thousand head), Mato Grosso (+19.75 thousand head) and São Paulo (+6.07 thousand head). On the other hand, the main decrease took place in Goiás (-4.61 thousand head).

Santa Catarina still leads slaughter of hogs and pigs, with 29.3% of national participation, followed by Paraná (20.4%) and Rio Grande do Sul (16.8%).

Slaughter of chickens increases and approaches pre-pandemic levels

In Q3 2020, 1.51 billion head of chickens were slaughtered, with an increase of 2.8% against the same period of 2019 and an increment of 7.0% against Q2 2020. The monthly comparison showed that July was the best in all the time series, which started in 1997. The performance of the sector was close to the level reached in Q1 2020, a period when effects of the pandemic were still incipient.

Slaughter of 41.08 million head of chickens more in Q3 2020, against the same period a year ago, was characterized by increases in 17 of the 25 Federation Units surveyed. Among those with a participation above 1.0%, there were increases in Paraná (+19.68 million head), Goiás (+9.69 million head), Rio Grande do Sul (+5.61 million head), Mato Grosso do Sul (+4.48 million head), São Paulo (+3.63 million head), Minas Gerais (+3.05 million head), Pernambuco (+1.42 million head) and Bahia (+737.92 million head). Decreases were registered in Santa Catarina (-5.60 million head), Mato Grosso (-2.47 million head) and Pará (-1.99 million head).

In the ranking of Federation Units, Paraná still leads slaughter of chickens, with 32.9% of the national participation, followed by Rio Grande Sul (14.0%) and Santa Catarina (13.5%).

Despite effects of the pandemic, acquisition of milk reaches record figure in Q3

Acquisition of raw milk by establishments under some type of sanitary inspection (federal, state or municipal) was 6.45 billion liters in Q3 2020, which means an increase of 2.6% against Q3 2019, and an increase of 10.7% against the previous quarter.

Despite economic impacts caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, this result is a record figure for a Q3, in the time series initiated in 1997. Production of milk has a cyclical behavior, in which third quarters have an increment against the preceding period, with the beginning of collection in main dairy basis. August was the month with highest acquisition, with 2.18 billion liters of milk .

Against the same period in 2019, increase of 163.81 million liters of milk acquired at national level comes from increases in 10 of the 26 Federation Units that are part of the Quarterly Survey of Milk.

The most significant increases took place in Paraná (+73.72 million liters), Minas Gerais (+66.89 million liters), Santa Catarina (+28.28 million liters) and Bahia (+22.75 million liters). On the other hand, the most significant decreases occurred in Goiás (-27.32 million liters), Espírito Santo (-7.9 million liters) and Mato Grosso (-5.77 million liters).

Minas Gerais is still the leader, with 25.1% of national acquisition, followed by Paraná (14.7%) and Rio Grande do Sul (13..8%).

Acquisition of leather falls 4.6% with smaller supply of animals for slaughter 

In Q3 2020, tanneries reported having received 8.19 million pieces of cattle rawhide, a decrease of 4.6% against the amount acquired in Q3 2019 and rise of 11.9% against Q2 2020. The reduction of supply of animals for slaughter, against the equivalent period in the previous year, also had an impact on the acquisition of raw material by tanneries.

The month with highest acquisition was July, when 2.84 pieces were acquired. It is worth mentioning that the Quarterly Survey of Leather investigates only tanneries that treat at least 5 thousand whole pieces of cattle rawhide per year.

Comparison between Q3 in 2019 and 2020 shows a negative change of 392.62 thousand pieces acquired by establishments, due to the reduction observed in 14 of the 19 Federation Units that have tanneries belonging to the survey universe.

The most significant negative changes took place in São Paulo (-154.32 thousand pieces), Pará (-107.13 thousand pieces) and Mato Grosso do Sul (-69.56 thousand pieces). Paraná had the biggest positive change (+126.04 thousand pieces).

Mato Grosso is still the leader among Federation Units that receive rawhide pieces for processing, 17.4% of national participation, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul (13.3%) and São Paulo (11.1%).

After rise of meat prices, egg production reaches highest figure in 33 years

Production of hen eggs reached 1.01 billion dozen in Q3 this year, a figure 3.8% bigger than in Q3 2019 and 3.6% above the figure in the previous quarter. That is a record in the series which started in 1987.

The peak of production in Q3 2020 took place in August, when 338.76 million dozen were counted, 3.3% above the output in the same period in 2019. Rise of meat prices, registered throughout Q3, tends to stimulate consumption of hen eggs, since that is a more accessible type of protein.

The production of 37.45 million dozen eggs more, at national level, compared to Q3 2020 and 2019, was influenced by rises in 20 of the 26 Federation Units with chicken farms classified in the universe of the survey.

The biggest increased took place in São Paulo (+10.36 million dozen), Santa Catarina (+5.20 million dozen), Bahia (+3.66 million dozen), Mato Grosso (+3.65 million dozen), Amazonas (+3.38 million dozen) and Mato Grosso do Sul (+3.34 million dozen). The main decreases took place in Goiás (-3.43 million dozen) and Rio de Janeiro (-1.69 million dozen).

The state of São Paulo remained as the main producer of eggs, with 29.0% of the national production, followed by Paraná, Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, all of them with participation of 9.0% in national production.