2 March 2022

3 minute read

By: Melanie Epp

South America

The first results of Brazil's Quarterly Livestock Survey in the 4th quarter of 2021 were published on the government website yesterday. The report indicates that, compared to the same quarter of 2020, cattle slaughter fell 8.2%, and pig slaughter increased 5.8%.

Beef cattle

Compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021, cattle slaughter fell 2.5% and pig slaughter fell 3.2%, while chicken slaughter rose 0.3%.

In the 4th quarter of 2021, 6.77 million heads of cattle were slaughtered under some kind of sanitary inspection service. This amount represented negative variations of 8.2% compared to the 4th quarter of 2020 and 2.5% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021.

The production of 1.87 million tons of bovine carcasses in the 4th quarter of 2021 consisted of a 5.7% retraction compared to the same quarter of the previous year and a 0.8% reduction compared to that calculated in the 3rd quarter of 2021.

Pigs

In the 4th quarter of 2021, 13.29 million pig heads were slaughtered, representing an increase of 5.8% over the same period in 2020 and a drop of 3.2% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021.

The accumulated weight of pig carcasses recorded 1.21 million tons in the 4th quarter of 2021, which consisted of an increase of 7.9% over the 4th quarter of 2020 and a drop of 4.8% compared to the immediately preceding quarter.

Dairy

The purchase of milk was 6.42 billion liters, with a decline of 5.7% compared to the 4th quarter of 2020 and an increase of 3.6% compared to the immediately preceding quarter.

In the 4th quarter of 2021, the acquisition of raw milk made by establishments under some kind of sanitary inspection was 6.42 billion liters, with a decline of 5.7% compared to the 4th quarter of 2020 and an increase of 3.6% compared to that obtained in the immediately preceding quarter.

Poultry

In poultry, chicken slaughter declined by 1.2%, and 977.6 million dozen chicken eggs were produced in the 4th quarter of 2021, down 1.8% in the annual comparison and 2.4% compared to the immediately preceding quarter.

Chicken slaughter in the 4th quarter of 2021 totaled 1.54 billion chicken heads. This result meant a decrease of 1.2% compared to the equivalent quarter of the previous year and an increase of 0.3% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021.

Chicken egg production was 977.6 million dozens in the 4th quarter of 2021. The result shows a decrease of 1.8% compared to the same period in 2020 and a drop of 2.4% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2021.

The accumulated weight of carcasses was 3.68 million tons in the 4th quarter of 2021. This total meant an increase of 2.9% over the 4th quarter of 2020 and an increase of 1.1% over the immediately preceding quarter.