Tamara Esteves de Oliveira

Disposição dos consumidores porto-alegrenses à compra de carne bovina com certificação

The profile of beef meat consumers was analyzed, as well as the consumption of certificated meat, with the objective of obtaining data on the importance the of certification value at the purchasing occasion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beef meat consumers awareness regarding the meat certification and how much they are willing to pay for this process. The data survey was carried out in only one supermarket chain from the city of Porto Alegre - RS, Brazil, which authorized the research interviewing people through questionnaires, close to refrigerator counters of any meat species. It was observed that consumers are demanding for food with quality attributes, with trustful certifications that testify these quality attributes. However, the data obtained from interviews with consumers showed that they are willing to pay only little more for certification than the current price, probably due to the fact that their average monthly income ranges from one to six minimum wages.

Melhoria organizacional na produção de bezerros de corte a partir dos centros de custos

The production cost in cow-calf was designed by a standard methodology that can be able to measure the production cost of calves and, simultaneously to validate the method in a production system. Within this context, the present paper discusses, initially, the relevance of the implementation of methodology in cost centers as a support decision-making, due to the need for a segmented analysis of the processes, specialized in cow-calf production systems. The stages for implementation of this method are described. A production system, typical of the Southern of Brazil, was defined from technical indicators reported in reviews. It was simulated the application of this methodology of the subjected system, where it was viewed the production costs of the different productive centers: bulls, cows, rearing of heifers and weaning of calves, enabling to understand the impact that determinates process and/or technologies bring on to the system. Consequently, to calculate the production cost of calves from the methodology based on the cost centers was feasible to be used in production systems based on cow-calf.

Análise da sensibilidade da metodologia dos centros de custos mediante a introdução de tecnologias em um sistema de produção de cria

A bioeconomical simulation model was developed in a traditional cow-calf production system (TPS) for the application of cost center methodology with the objective of evaluating its sensibility by the introduction of early weaning technologies in primiparous cows (EWS), improved pasture for primiparous cows and half lot of secundiparous cows (IPS) and protein supplementation for replacement heifers (PSS). All technologies were used to increase the pregnancy rate in this system (TPS). Data on biological performance was obtained from a bibliographic review on production indicators and cost and economic values were obtained from market. The inputs of the model were: herd structure, production costs and production technology. The outputs of the model were: operational cost (OC); expenditure cost (EC); production costs per center (PCC); unitary cost per calf (UCC); cost per weaned kilo (WC/kg); annual cost per cow (ACC); financial break-even (FBE), operational margin (OM), pregnancy rate (PT), calf crop (CC), productivity/cow (P/C), number of weaned calves (NWC), calves break-even (CBE) and total production in kilos (TP/kg). The use of the cost center methodology was sensitive in identifying variations in the technical economic indicators and in the costs of each productive center. The introduction of EWS, IPS and PSS showed in the increase of technical indicators and in the operational margin, presented a straight relation with the changing in the cost centers, proving the sensibility of the costs methodology in relation to the impact in TPS.

Procedural Priorities of the Pork Loin Supply Chain

The pork meat production industry is facing new challenges as a consequence of consumers’ expectations regarding the quality and safety of food products. For the present study, experts and consumers in Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil were interviewed to identify the attributes of pork loin that need to be improved. Consumers have particular concerns about the juiciness, fibrousness, and portion size of the meat, the diversity of cuts and safety and animal welfare. The supply chain was also analyzed in order to verify the procedural priorities that need to be improved in order to meet the demands of consumers. Experts were interviewed using the quality function deployment methodology. The findings of the study indicate that, improvements must be made in the production sector in terms of animal handling and transportation. In the processing sector, improvements are required regarding slaughter control of PSE and DFD, the development of new packaging, and product fractionation. The requirements in the distribution sector relate to information campaigns for consumers to diffuse the nutritional characteristics of pork loin and in the product safety through sanitary inspection.

Post-weaning weight gain and pregnancy rate of beef heifers bred at 18 months of age: a meta-analysis approach

The objective of this study was to evaluate, using meta-analysis, the main factors related to post-weaning body weight and weight gain that affect pregnancy rate of heifers bred at 18 months of age. Data of 1398 beef heifers from six experiments were analyzed as a set. Information related to methodology and results of each experiment were codified in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. The independent variables analyzed were: body weight at seven months of age (BW7M), daily weight gain from seven to 12 months (DWG7-12), body weight at 12 months of age (BW12M), daily weight gain from 12 to 15 months (DWG12-15), body weight at 15 months of age (BW15M), daily weight gain from 15 to 18 months (DWG15-18), daily weight gain from 7 to 18 months (DWG7-18) and body weight at 18 months of age (BW18M). The response variable was pregnancy rate (PR). Body weight at 18 months of age and DWG7-18 showed high correlation with PR and between each other. The other variables presented low correlation with PR. Body weight at first breeding and daily weight gain from seven to 18 months are the most important variables affecting the pregnancy rate of heifers bred at 18 months of age in the autumn. Weaning weight and weight gain during intermediate steps of the post-weaning period are not good predictors of pregnancy rate. Higher pregnancy rates can be obtained provided enough post-weaning weight gain and minimum body weight at first breeding are achieved, irrespective of when weight is gained.

Factors affecting the selling prices of calves in auctions in Santa Catarina State, Brazil

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of genetic group and calf sex on selling prices in auctions in the state of Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil. We evaluated 33,143 animals, representing 3,587 lots in 47 auctions from 2009 to 2014. The calves were classified according to genetic groups: British breed or crossbreed (BX); Continental breed or crossbreed (CX); Zebu breed or crossbreed (ZC); British and Continental crossbreed (BC); and Bos taurus and Bos indicus crossbreed (TI). The lots were composed of male and female calves. The years presenting low and high changes in the price of calves were similar to the variation in the price of beef cattle and, in 2014, the calf price reached its highest value (R

Desenvolvimento e validação de um modelo preditor do desempenho de novilhos de corte sob suplementação em pastagens tropicais

5.36). Male calves were sold at prices higher than female calves (average 7.8%), but this difference was driven by year of analysis, in which the closest approach occurred during periods of reduction in the price of live cattle in SC (2012 and 2013). Calves of genetic groups ZX and TI received, on average, lower prices (R

Agricultural land use change in the Brazilian Pampa Biome: The reduction of natural grasslands

4.49 and R

Crescimento de novilhas de corte com diferentes ganhos de peso dos 12 aos 18 meses de idade

4.64, respectively) compared with the other groups. In 2013, males from the BX group had greater variation in price compared with CX (3.9%) and BC (5.7%). On the other hand, female heifers from the BX group received higher average prices in 2011 compared with the CX, BC, IT, and ZX groups (8.1, 8.5, 14.7, and 16.5%, respectively). Recently, female British heifers have had a greater appreciation in auctions held in SC, possibly for their reproductive performance potential of beef cows. Thus, sex and different genetic groups are factors that impact the selling price of calves in the SC region.

Análise comparativa da competividade do Brasil e EUA no mercado internacional da carne bovina

A simulation model was developed and validated with the objective of evaluating and predicting the productive performance of steers with different weights and initial ages kept on Panicum sp. or Brachiaria sp. cultivated pastures in tropical and subtropical regions. The model established the direct relationships between two main components (animal and fodder plant) and two indirect components (climate and soil). The animal component included: intake of forage dry matter, supplement intake, stocking rate, initial weight and age of the animals, biotype (adult weight and weight at birth), energy requirement for maintenance and production (live weight gain). The forage components included: growth, senescence, digestibility and availability. The results obtained with the model were compared to those obtained in the literature under similar conditions in Brazil and a low percentage of estimated error was found (35%). The model is an adequate tool to evaluate certain nutritional strategies and thus to assist in decisions that depend on the weight gain of the animals and pasture conditions over time.