Economic viability of feedlot finishing steers slaughtered with different weights

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic viability, through financial indicators evaluated together, of the feedlot finished steers slaughtered at 425, 467 and 510 kg, using 18 animals with age and average initial weight of 361 kg and 713 days, fed for 30, 65 and 94 days, respectively, receiving diet forage: concentrate ratio of 60:40. The experimental design was completely randomized. Estimates of financial indicators, estimated per animal, were similar between slaughter weights, with average of R$ 58.42 for gross margin; R$ 25.57 for net margin; R$ -21.22 for profit; of R$ 8.73 for net present value; of 1.025 to benefit: cost index; 2.47% for additional return on investment; and 0.628% per month for internal rate of return. The discounted payback differed among all slaughter weights, being 3.93, 4.90 and 5.89 months, respectively, for 425, 467 and 510 kg. Considering the costs and revenue items estimated from annual prices from 2004 to 2012, the use of feedlot in Rio Grande do Sul as an option of termination to obtain the direct benefits of this technology represents an alternative investment with low economic return, regardless of slaughter weights evaluated.