This study had the objective to analyze the effect of production scale in the profitability of finishing beef cattle production in feedlot conditions and identify the components that had higher influence on the final costs of the activity. The analyzed data originated from the simulation of finishing 100, 500 and 1000 male castrated bovines, from May 2005 to August 2005. The data was processed by using an electronic spreadsheet. Accord to the results, it was conclude that the production scale affected significantly the profitability of the finishing beef cattle production in feedlot and that the items of the effective operational cost had greater influence on the costs of the activities were, in a decreasing sequence order of importance, the purchasing of the animals, feed, several expenses, labor, health care and taxes.
Analysis of profitability; beef cattle; production cost; simulation
