Economic impacts of carcass condemnation on cattle production in Southern Brazil

Abstract

The consumption of meat requires the guarantee of its quality through the control of production and inspection in the line of slaughter and can generate financial losses due to condemnations. This study analyzed economic losses for cattle farmers, resulting from total or partial condemnation of cattle carcasses in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS). A total of 6 833 033 cattle slaughters were surveyed under the Federal Inspection scheme between 2007 and 2015 and estimated financial loss for condemnations in the slaughterhouse. Altogether 7 103 carcases were totally condemned; 15 173 were assigned to treatment with heat or salting, and 37 493 were destined for consumption after cold treatment. An estimated loss of more than US$ 2.35 million per year has been estimated. Cysticercosis represented 42.52%, tuberculosis 17.43%, advanced stage of pregnancy 11.73% and bruises 5.1% of total losses. Considering that the Federal Inspection occurs in 35.58% of the slaughters of RS, the total losses due to these causes was estimated at 6.61 million dollars per year when establishments under municipal and state supervision were included. Few commercial production systems admit such large losses. These results allow directing efforts, creating new opportunities to increase income in cattle breeding.