Cattle slaughter in Brazil returns to growth after two years of decline

Cattle slaughter grew again in 2022 after two consecutive years of decline. There were 29.80 million head last year, an increase of 7.5% compared to the previous year, or 2.09 million head more. Reaching 56.15 million head, hog slaughter grew by 5.9% over the previous year and set a record in the historical series.

The data are from the Livestock Production Statistics, released this Wednesday (15) by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The research analyst, Bernardo Viscardi, said that the 19.1% increase in the slaughter of females was fundamental for this resumption of cattle slaughter. “These are the livestock cycles. After a period of retention of cows for breeding, followed by the entry of calves into the market and their consequent devaluation due to the increase in supply, the females begin to be destined for slaughter ”, he explains in a text on the IBGE website.

The state of Mato Grosso remains in the leadership of the ranking country in cattle slaughter. The state’s participation in the country’s total was 15.8%. Next is São Paulo, with 11.5%, and Mato Grosso do Sul, with 11%.

Eggs

Chicken egg production advanced in 16 of the 26 states analyzed in 2022. Compared to 2021, national production grew by 1.2%, which represents a new record in 2022, totaling 4.06 billion dozens. The increase in activity compared to 2021 represents 47.71 million dozen more eggs available on the market.

According to Bernardo Viscardi, the domestic market is largely responsible for the result, since Brazil exports less than 1% of production. “The egg is the cheapest protein, in absolute terms, among all those researched, being a great alternative to beef, pork and chicken. The eggs are used both for consumption and for hatching. Therefore, the growth in chicken meat production follows the increase in the activity of incubated, fertile eggs, ”he explained.

Even with the decrease of 0.1% compared to the previous year, the activity in São Paulo remained responsible for the highest production, leading the annual ranking of states in chicken egg production, with 27.1%. Then there are Paraná, with 9.4%, Minas Gerais, with 8.9%, and Espírito Santo, with 8.4%.

swine

According to the IBGE, once again, pigs stood out. There were 56.15 million head slaughtered in 2022, an increase of 5.9% or 3.10 million head more compared to 2021.

For the research analyst, this can be explained by the increase in exports and also because it is a type of meat with a lower cost and more accessible than beef. “The pork industry has been working with cuts that are easy to prepare, which naturally helps to increase consumption. In addition, exports increased. Despite the recovery of its herd after control of African swine fever, some of the main destinations for Brazilian meat, such as China, Vietnam and the Philippines, maintained imports at high levels, ”he said.

The leadership in hog slaughter in 2022 continued with Santa Catarina, which reached 28.5% of the national slaughter, followed by Paraná, with 20.4%, and Rio Grande do Sul, with 17.3%.

Another sector that benefited from the high demand in the domestic market was the production of chicken, a protein that more people have access to and, in general, replaces beef.

According to the IBGE, the stability result for 2022 is the second best in the historical series and was second only to the amount for 2021.

The survey also pointed out that in product exports, avian flu, which hit the northern hemisphere to a greater extent, contributed to boost sales of chicken meat in Brazil. As a result, according to the IBGE, Brazil has further consolidated its position as the world’s largest chicken meat exporter.

According to Bernardo Viscardi, there were problems in the production chains of traditional suppliers in the international market, both in the United States and in the European Union. “The war in Ukraine also had an impact, as the country was one of the biggest suppliers,” he said.

Paraná continued at the head of the ranking of states in chicken slaughter in 2022 and reached 33.5% of national participation. Then come Rio Grande do Sul (13.4%) and Santa Catarina (13.1%).

Leite

On the contrary, the milk captured in 2022 reached 23.85 billion liters. The volume represents a 5% drop compared to 2021. It is also the second consecutive drop after the record observed in 2020.

Viscardi said that the performance can be explained by the La Niña phenomenon, which caused drought in southern Brazil and harmed pastures, resulting in a decrease in milk production. “The high production costs, which influence the price of milk, involving feed, energy and fuel, associated with low demand in the domestic market, were other important factors”, he added.

Once again, Minas Gerais was at the top of the national ranking. This time, with 24.5% of participation, followed by Paraná (14.3%) and Rio Grande do Sul (13.3%).

Leather

Production in tanneries with at least 5,000 whole units of bovine rawhide per year reached a total of 30.11 million whole pieces. It is an increase of 2.4% over the previous year.

According to the IBGE, the increase in the receipt of bovine skins in 13 of the 18 states that have tanneries eligible for the survey influenced the result. With 16.6% of participation, Mato Grosso remained in the lead of the national ranking, followed by Mato Grosso do Sul, with 13.8%, and São Paulo, with 11.1%.

Last trimester

The 2022 data were obtained after the result of the 4th quarter of 2022, when cattle slaughter grew by 7.7%, pork by 3.4% and chicken by 2.2%, compared to the same period of 2021. Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2022, cattle slaughter fell by 5.4%, pork slaughter fell by 4% and chicken slaughter rose by 2.2%. The acquisition of milk stood at 6.29 billion liters, which represents a 3.2% decrease compared to the 4th quarter of 2021 and a 2.5% increase compared to the immediately previous quarter.

The acquisition of leather parts by tanneries increased by 5.4% compared to the 4th quarter of 2021, and a decrease of 4.6% compared to the previous quarter. In sum, there were 7.62 million pieces of rawhide.

The production of chicken eggs stood at 1.04 billion dozens in the 4th quarter of 2022, an increase of 3.4% compared to the same period of 2021 and 1% compared to the previous quarter.