Competitiveness of beef cattle production systems in the Northern Region of Brazil

Abstract

This paper aimed to measure the competitiveness of beef cattle in the production systems located at the Northern region of Brazil. In the first quarter of 2010, 29 ranchers were interviewed in different regions of the states of Pará and Rondônia. From a multidisciplinary team, the main indicators that affect the competitiveness within the ranch were defined. They were as follows: technology, management, market relationship and institutional environment. Later on these indicators were divided in ten, ten, four and seven factors, respectively, giving specific values for each one of them in order to determine the competitiveness index using specific equations. The competitiveness index was measured for each production system and, later, the region average was calculated. The competitiveness rate of the indicators and of each of the 31 factors was also calculated, varying from very unfavorable to very favorable. The results were statistically analyzed by item response theory and the correspondent analysis. The competitiveness index of the production systems showed very unfavorable competitiveness rate (4%), unfavorable (31%), neuter (41%) and favorable (24%). The index management s]howed a strong association with the very unfavorable degree of competitiveness, as suggested by correspondent analysis. The main crucial factors identified were: integrated crop-livestock systems, strategic planning, financial indicators measurement, informatics, rancher-packer relationship, technologic innovation access, and rancher’s organization. In this sense strategic actions towards a better competitiveness of the beef cattle sector become essential for the whole beef supply chain.