Economic consequences of quantitative losses in beef cattle carcasses caused by vaccine abscesses in state of Bahia, Brazil

Vaccine abscesses are key factors to condemn beef cattle carcasses. Often, economic losses can compromise the profitability of both slaughter house and rural producer. This study aimed to quantify the losses in beef production by carcass parts damnation due to vaccine reactions. The study was conducted in partnership with the slaughter house located in Itapetinga (BA, Brazil). From a total of 7,033 slaughtered animals, 5,225 carcasses were evaluated (74.3% of total). Excised parts of carcasses due to vaccine reaction were separated, weighed and later discarded to rendering plant. The percentage of carcasses with some loss was greater than 98%. Disposal by vaccine reaction exceeded 0.500 kg/carcass. The average loss of total slaughtered animals reached 0.24% of the carcass. Considering only the studied slaughter house, there was an economic loss of R$ 29,978.75 in just 13 days of operation, or, the equivalent in american dollars of US$ 7,457.40 (exchange of 01/14/2016). Tissues removed from carcasses due to abscess formation cause significant loss for both slaughter houses and rural producers.