This study had as an overall objective to make a technical and economic evaluation of log extraction activities on a mountain area using a Track-Skidder. The study was developed in a eucalypt plantation owned by a Minas Gerais company that uses a mechanized full-tree system. The technical evaluation consisted of analyzing the operational factors and mechanical delays as well as determining the productivity indexes, operational efficiency and mechanical availability. The economical evaluation consisted of determining the operational costs as well as the distribution of these costs. A total of 1.691 hours of machinery operation was evaluated and the study areas were stratified in three levels of slope degree and three extraction distances. In agreement with the study, machinery productivity decreases with the increase of the slope degrees and the extraction distances. At the end of the evaluation period, the machine reached a mechanical readiness of 79% and an operational efficiency of 76%. Its productivity varied from 17 to 25 m³/ha and its operational cost was R$ 171,00/ha (US$57.00/ha).
Harvesting; Track-Skidder; cost; productivity
