Citing SABI (South American Business Information), Meat & Poultry reports that Brazilian poultry companies are tuning production to external demand.

It reports the Brazilian poultry exporters association, Abef, recommending a reduction of 20 per cent in the national production as from the beginning of 2009, in order to adjust inventories kept abroad, and cope with the new realities of the market.

Sadia has called collective vacations to 12,000 employees, or 20 per cent of its labour force although it has not halted activities at any of its production units.

Perdigão is reported to have cut its production of poultry and pig meat for export by 20 per cent, as has Aurora Alimentos, which slaughtered 112 million chickens in 2008.

According to the report, Erico Pozzer, vice president Uniao Brasileira de Avicultura (UBA) said in November 2008 that hatchery output dropped 13 per cent in October.