During the colonial period, the sugar company was the great investment of the Portuguese in Brazilian lands. However, the consumption needs of the native populations served for the development of other economic activities aimed at subsistence. Such economic ventures were commonly known as ancillary or secondary activities and used to cover the planting of small and medium crops and the production of cotton, brown sugar, brandy, tobacco and cassava.
In this scenario, the cattle raising activity also began to gain space with the importation of some cattle used for work on the sugar mills. Over time, the growth of the cattle herd caused problems inside the sugar plantations, which had part of their plantation destroyed by the action of these animals. Thus, the profit to be achieved with sugar production was incompatible with the uncomfortable presence of cattle on the farms.
The issue was even dealt with by the metropolitan authorities, who established a decree that prohibited the carrying out of any cattle-raising activity in the coastal regions of Brazil. The measure, despite its visibly restrictive character, ended up boosting cattle ranching in the interior of the territory extensively with the use of natural pastures. According to some estimates, in the 17th century, the activity reached several northeastern regions and had more than 600,000 heads.
In addition to being an alternative economic activity to colonial exploitation projects, cattle raising also instituted new labor relations that were alien to the use of slave labor. Generally, cattle raising required a small number of workers and had its workforce made up of free workers of white, black, indigenous or mestizo origin. In addition, payment for services rendered was commonly carried out with the transfer of new animals that appeared in the herd.
With the emergence of mining activities in the Southeast and Center-West regions, livestock has expanded its consumer market establishing new expansion fronts in the Northeast and the South region of the territory. In addition to serving to supply the population, the cattle raising activity also consolidated a thriving trade in horses and mules used to transport people and goods. Generally, fairs were organized in some urban centers in the interior where these animals were traded.
In addition to occupying an important position in the colonial environment, the expansion of livestock was of great importance in the process of expanding the territory. At the same time, after the decline of the mining activity in the interior, cattle raising was also consolidated as a new activity that would replace the economic vacuum left by the shortage of mines.
By Rainer Sousa
Graduated in History
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historiab/pecuaria-no-periodo-colonial.htm