The objective of this study was to analyze the situation of the beef cattle industry in Brazil after changes in the production/commercialization system with the Mercosul advent. It was closely investigated not only beef cattle production indexes but also amounts of meat produced, consumed, and exported after 1990. Results showed that Brazil has potential to increase meat exportation but that will depend of actions channeled to improve herd sanitary conditions, political issues, and overall production efficiency.
beef cattle; beef exportation; economic groups; Mercosul,; production; meat consumption
