For the first time in 15 years, Germany's 2012 commercial meat production reached eight million tonnes, a decrease of 1.9% or 159,000 tonnes from 2011.

This is according to the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

Meat production in 1997 totalled 4.9 million tonnes and, until 2011, advanced approximately 67% to roughly 8.2 million tonnes. Destatis attributed the decline in total meat production to declines in pork production, although beef production was trending down as well. Pork demand declined 2.5% on-year, and beef production slipped 1.9%.

Additionally, Germany's rapid growth in poultry production sharply declined in 2012. Poultry production was narrowly higher compared to production in 2011, Destatis reported.