It is noted that in November/December 2022, Germany and Denmark reported a reduction in the number of pigs, which is equivalent to more than half of the total reduction in the EU. The decrease in Germany was equal to 33% of the total decrease in the EU (-2.4 million heads compared to 2021; -10%). The decrease in Denmark was 22% of the total decrease in the EU (-1.6 million heads, -12%). Bulgaria and Malta (both -26%) had the largest relative declines.
The decline was part of a general trend. All EU member states with more than 3 million pigs reported a decrease, with two exceptions: Italy (+330 thousand heads, +4% compared to 2021) and Sweden (+50 thousand heads, +3%).
In November/December 2022, France and Italy reported a decrease in the cattle population, equivalent to more than two-thirds of the total decrease in the EU. The decline in France was equal to 40% of the total decline in the EU (-340 thousand heads; -2% compared to 2021). The decline in Italy is equivalent to 27% of the total decline in the EU (-230 thousand heads, -4%). The largest relative decline was recorded in Bulgaria (-5%).
The decline in sheep in Spain was equivalent to 57% of the total EU decline (-630 thousand heads; -4% compared to 2021), while the decline in France was 36% of the total EU decline (-400 thousand heads, -6%). In terms of goat numbers, the decline in Spain was equivalent to 33% of the total EU decline (-130 thousand heads; -5%). The decline in Greece was equivalent to 23% of the total decline in the EU (-80 thousand heads; -3%).
Over the past decade, the number of farm animals in the EU has decreased for all species. The number of goats decreased the most during this period (-9 index points in 2022 compared to 2012). Until 2020, the number of pigs was an exception to this trend; however, since then it has caught up with the rest of the species with a noticeable decline in each of the last two years.
PigUA,info by agrotimes.ua