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Abstract
The opportunity cost generated by the sacrifice of expectant cows was estimated, in a slaughterhouse in Veracruz, México, during a period of four weeks. The number of animals sacrificed was 5045, with 1993 (39.5 %) females and 3052 (60.4 %) males. Of the cows, 1148 were expectant, of which 394 showed fetuses of 1-3 months of gestation, 424 of 3-6 months, and 330 of 6-9 months. Considering the prices reported by the Ministry of Economy and the National System of Information and Market Integration, it was found that for 1091 fetuses recorded in the sample, minus a 5 % of mortality, the producers ceased to earn $167,795 dollars over the unborn calves, $419,598 dollars over the calves at weaning, and $245,473 dollars over milk production; this shows that the sacrifice of expectant females represents a high opportunity cost for the economy of livestock producers.