The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) reported that the slaughter of pigs rose by 5.7 per cent last year compared to 2014. More than 39 million head were slaughtered - the largest number since 2005.

Chicken slaughter increased by 5.4 per cent, also a record (5.79 billion heads).

According to Mr Solomon, another factor which explains the good results is the end point of the supply chain, i.e. the consumer. Beef rose in price in 2015, and Brazilians preferred to buy chicken and pork.

"The increase in the consumption of poultry meat is a global trend as an alternative to the higher cost of beef," he said.

IBGE data show that the records in the slaughter of pigs and chickens contributed to a slight increase of 1.2 per cent in the total meat production in the country in 2015, compared to the previous year, reaching 24 million tons.

Mr Soloman added that in the last 10 years, meat production increased by 15 per cent.