The growth of beef cattle sector in Brazil: economic factors and sector policies

Author(s)

Waldemiro Alcantara da Silva Neto

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Piracicaba.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC)
• Defense date: 2011-04-05

Examining board members

Mirian Rumenos Piedade Bacchi; Lucilio Rogerio Aparecido Alves; Nelly Maria Sansigolo de Figueiredo; Lilian Maluf de Lima; Sérgio De Zen

• Advisor: Mirian Rumenos Piedade Bacchi

Abstract

This study aims to identify the factors which are responsible for the excellent performance of the beef cattle sector, taking its growth in Brazil and the increase of beef exports into account. The construction of a theoretical model which is capable to support the specification process of the econometric model used to quantify the impacts of the variations in the factors which are responsible for both supply and demand of beef in production and exports is necessary to conduct this study. An analytical study regarding several aspects of production, consumption and beef trading in both domestic and international markets is necessary to construct a theoretical model. Moreover, this study involves the influence of the use of risk management and financing of production tools (CPR, future contracts and term markets) in the increase in beef supply observed over the last years. Results show that the stock of animals influences the growth of the cattle product and Brazilian beef exports. A positive shock of 1% in this variable increases the product in 7.6% after eight trimesters, and, as for shipments, in roughly 13%. Results indicate also that the increase in the bovine livestock reduces prices paid to producers and values in the retail market. Yield is also an important variable, because it has affected positively and expressively production and shipments. The effects of prices paid to producers and in the retail market are expressive, but only in the short-terms. Concerning results of the historical decomposition of forecast mistakes, it can be inferred that the model has presented a good performance regarding adjustment for some variables, such as animal stocks and prices paid to producers. As for the results of the decomposition of oscillations of forecast mistakes, it can be said that several results found corroborate that obtained in the impulse response function. (AU)