“The Brazilian beef industry is now able to compete in global markets on price and quality, unlike before when it was only competing on price,” claims Andre Peronne dos Reis, who finishes 33,000 beef animals per year in the centre of Brazil.

Given the unfolding Brazilian meat scandal, many countries around the world are now questioning the integrity of the Brazilian beef supply chain.

But, as one of the largest beef finishers in the country, Andre is confident that Brazilian beef farmers are producing a quality product that can compete on price and quality in any market around the world.

Concerns

All that said he has concerns around the Brazilian beef industry. With prices the equivalent of €2.70/kg, he says the beef industry is not making money right now.

His cattle are raised on pasture until 18-24 months and are then fed on grain for around 100 days, in feedlots which hold 16,000 animals.

We have to show the market how we can produce quality at a large scale while getting a good price

The animals are on average 24-30 months old when slaughtered, with an average weight of 580kg.

He explains that one of the biggest challenges is the corn price, which has more than doubled in the last year as a result of the weaker Brazilian Real to the US dollar.

He says the cattle business in Brazil is large scale and it can be profitable. But he adds that “we have to show the market how we can produce quality at a large scale while getting a good price”.

He concludes that the exchange rate has been hard on the Brazilian beef processors.

Listen here:

Listen to “Brazilian beef farmer Andre Perone - From Ep. 64” on Spreaker.

Read more

Brazil meat scandal: full coverage