Avaliação econômica da produção de carne bovina em sistemas integrados submetidos a protocolos ambientais

Abstract

Studies were conducted at the Experimental Farm of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ), in Uberaba-MG, aiming to study the economic evaluation of beef production in production systems subjected to environmental protocols, focusing on the sustainability and productive efficiency of Brazilian livestock farming. The work is structured in two main sections and presents a multidisciplinary approach that integrates silvicultural, zootechnical, and economic aspects. For the study simulating the profitability of wood and carbon stock through growth and production, four timber species were analyzed: Tectona grandis, Azadirachta indica, Khaya spp., and Acacia mangium, cultivated in an Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry (ICLF) system. Based on non-destructive methods, forest inventory data, allometry, and growth models were used to estimate the commercial volume of wood and accumulated carbon, associating these estimates with the economic potential of the wood and carbon credits. To estimate the profitability of timber production in Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry (ICLF) systems, the average market prices of logs (values updated to 2025) were considered, as follows: Tectona grandis (teak) at US$350.00/m³; Acacia mangium at US$120.00/m³; Azadirachta indica (neem) at US$150.00/m³; and Khaya spp (African Mahogany) at US$ 500.00/m³. African Mahogany presented the highest profitability (US$23,026.00) considering the 10-year net present value (NPV) and the best technical-economic performance, with an estimated investment payback period of 6 years, highlighting the market value of the wood. For the analysis, technical and economic data generated by animals produced at the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders (ABCZ) were used, in the Zebu Quality Meat programs, following environmental protocols, Low Carbon Beef (CBC) and Carbon Neutral Beef (CCN). Zootechnical and economic indicators of the participating genetic groups were evaluated, considering animal performance, feed efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions, and financial return per arroba produced. The average cost per arroba produced was R$ 259.52; on average, the overall production cost is closer to that of certified meats. The CBC and CCN projects presented lower average costs per arroba of R$ 252.44 and R$ 255.48, respectively, when compared to the herd of the Quality Meat Program (R$ 261.08). The comparative approach between the programs allowed the identification of the productive and economic advantages of the environmentally certified systems, highlighting the positive impacts on the beef production chain.