ANÁLISE CONJUNTURAL DO ABATE DE BOVINOS EM RORAIMA DE 2008 A 2013

The objective of this study was to undertake an analysis of cattle slaughter in the state of Roraima, Brazil, from 2008 to 2013, on the basis of need for information on this sector in the state. The study was conducted in Boa Vista, in April 2014, based on data from cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse under state inspection and prices charged by a meat cooperative. The data was processed in Microsoft Office Excel 2010 spreadsheets and subjected to descriptive analysis. In the evaluated period, 328,872 cattle were slaughtered (n= 231,587 males; n= 97,285 females) originating from the municipalities of Mucajai (29.22%), Canta (19.02%), Iracema (12.37%), and Alto Alegre (11.19%). From 2008 to 2010, the percentage of females remained stable, with monthly increases occurring from 2011 onwards. The total slaughter resulted in the production of 75,137.810 t of hot carcass (n= 57,636.231 (t) males; n= 17,501.579 (t) females). Eighty-nine carcasses were condemned for the following main causes: tuberculosis (52%), suppurative lesions and abscesses (34%), repulsive meat (11%), death in the pen (2%), and brucellosis (1%). Practically half (49.44%) of these were observed in whole carcasses, followed by the hindquarters (30.34%), forequarters (15.73%), and half-carcasses (4.49%), resulting in the loss of 12,525 kg, which would generate revenues close to BRL 50,000. The slaughtered animals mainly belonged to municipalities near the state capital Boa Vista, with a total production of over 75,000 t of carcass, and the main losses due to condemnation were a result of tuberculosis and lesions on whole carcasses and hindquarter. KEYWORDS: Animal production, Beef, Carcasses, Pathologies, Economic losses.