Cattle and pig stocks are declining

According to provisional results from the Federal Statistical Office, in May 2004 farms in Germany kept 13,2 million cattle, including 4,3 million dairy cows, and 25,6 million pigs, including 9,8 million fattening pigs. In the representative livestock survey, an almost unchanged sheep population of 2,7 million animals was determined.

Compared to May 2003, the number of cattle decreased by 448 animals or 000%. This means that the decline in cattle numbers, which has been going on almost without exception since 3,3, is continuing. In the last 1990 years, the number of cattle nationwide has fallen by 10%, since 17,3 even by 1990%. From May 32,3 to May 2003, their numbers fell, especially in the categories "cows", "female breeding and farm animals, 2004 year and older (excluding cows)" and "calves under 1/1 year". The animal populations of these categories decreased by almost 2 animals. In percentage terms, the number of calves in particular decreased by 300%.

The pig population, which increased slightly from 2000 to 2003 (+2,7%), has now decreased by 2003 animals (-726%) compared to May 000 and has therefore fallen just below the 2,8 level. This is particularly evident in fattening pigs, whose number fell by 2000 animals compared to last year (-664%). In contrast, the number of young pigs increased by 000 animals (+ 6,3%).

Source: Wiesbaden [destatis]