PECUARIA.IO SIMULATOR AIMS TO TRANSFORM BEEF CATTLE MANAGEMENT
- Feb 26
- 3 min read
Photo: Felipe Rosa
Developed based on zootechnical and economic indicators, the Pecuaria.io Simulator can be accessed via internet-connected computers or smartphones.
The platform enables cattle producers to simulate and compare different production scenarios, helping reduce uncertainty and make herd management more predictable and efficient.
It supports producers in understanding how each management decision affects overall farm performance.
The Pecuaria.io Simulator is currently designed for full-cycle production systems (from birth to slaughter), with a version specifically for cow-calf operations to be released soon.
The technology is positioned as a key ally in overcoming the persistent challenge of low productivity per hectare—an issue still faced by Brazil’s beef cattle sector.
The Pecuaria.io Simulator was developed by Embrapa Pecuária Sul (RS) in partnership with Inovatech. The initiative aims to positively impact beef cattle management by offering free, intuitive simulations that help producers clearly understand how management decisions influence both productivity and economic outcomes.
According to Vinicius Lampert, researcher at Embrapa Pecuária Sul, the project was conceived as a decision support system (DSS), grounded in zootechnical and economic indicators that translate complex data into practical results. “The goal is to enable producers to simulate different herd scenarios and understand how adjustments in specific indicators influence both productive and financial efficiency,” he explains.
Lampert notes that the tool evaluates farm performance in stabilized herds, particularly within full-cycle systems (from birth to slaughter). In practical terms, stabilized herds refer to closed, balanced systems where the proportion of each animal category directly reflects the farm’s own birth, mortality, and sales rates—without the need to purchase external cattle. A version tailored specifically for cow-calf operations (calf production systems) will also be launched soon. “This is a tool that combines simplicity, scientific rigor, and direct applicability in the field,” Lampert adds.
For Thomás Capiotti, CEO of Inovatech, the innovation brought by the project is unprecedented. “One clear metric showing we’re on the right path is that after a presentation we delivered at Expointer 2025, users from 14 Brazilian states began using the Pecuaria.io platform in less than a month. I’ve participated in innovation events in many places, and I can confidently say that what we are building here is revolutionary. We are solving a real market pain point with this AgTech, which has enormous scalability potential. Brazilian agribusiness accounts for roughly one-third of the country’s GDP and feeds nearly one billion people worldwide. Bringing innovation to such a strategic sector is undoubtedly a transformative opportunity for Brazil.”
Technology Serving Cattle Producers
The Pecuaria.io Simulator is a web-based application that estimates key indicators such as kilograms of live weight produced per hectare and offtake rate, based on parameters entered by the user. Its key differentiator lies in the ability to create and compare multiple production scenarios, helping producers clearly understand the impact of each decision on final results.
Main Features:
Productivity Simulation: Automatic calculations based on data such as weaning rate, mortality rate, age at first breeding, age at sale, and stocking rate per hectare.
Investment Analysis: Comparison between production scenarios to estimate the investment required to achieve specific performance goals.
Sensitivity Analysis: Assessment of the individual impact of each zootechnical variable, identifying which changes generate the highest returns.
Goal Setting: Herd sizing, required land area, and number of animals to wean or sell according to farm objectives.
Comparative Tables: Generation of tables correlating production per hectare and offtake rate under varying birth rates, breeding ages, and slaughter ages.
Lampert believes the simulator represents a significant step forward in the adoption of digital technologies within Brazil’s beef cattle industry. “Our objective is to bring science closer to day-to-day farm management. This simulator combines ease of use with solid technical grounding, enabling producers to evaluate outcomes and plan improvements with greater confidence.”
The platform was designed to facilitate strategic planning and reduce uncertainty in production management by connecting technical and economic information in a practical, visual format. “The Pecuaria.io Simulator is an example of how technology can professionalize cattle production, making management more predictable, sustainable, and profitable,” Lampert emphasizes.
The Productivity Challenge in the Field
Despite the economic relevance of Brazil’s beef cattle industry, the sector still faces challenges related to low productivity per hectare. According to Lampert, this is largely due to the difficulty in evaluating the integrated effects of management decisions—such as adjustments in weaning rate, slaughter age, breeding age, or pasture carrying capacity.
Producers often have access to data but lack a tool capable of translating that information into clear projections of production impact based on their own real farm inputs. “The Pecuaria.io Simulator was developed precisely to fill this gap,” the researcher concludes.
