March 24, 2026

Lower production in EU livestock sector expected this year

EU livestock production is expected to fall for most animals in 2026, with the exception of pigs.

The European Union's gross indigenous production (GIP) of bovine animals — a measure of animals produced within the bloc — is forecast to drop to 11.4 million head in the second half of 2026, down 0.5 million on the same period in 2025, Eurostat revealed last week. That would represent a fall of 4.2%.

Pig production is projected to rise, reaching 61.2 million head in the final quarter of 2026, up 3.2% compared with the same quarter of 2025.

France is forecast to remain the EU's largest producer of bovine animals, accounting for 23.1% of the bloc's total in the second half of 2026, Eurostat said.

Production in France is projected to edge down 0.4% to 2.63 million head over the period.

Among other major bovine producers, output is forecast to fall 0.6% in Germany to 1.7 million head and 5.2% in Ireland to 0.9 million, while Spain is expected to increase production by 2.7% to 1.1 million head.

Spain is also forecast to remain the EU's largest pig producer, with 15.8 million pigs in the fourth quarter of 2026 — 25.7% of the EU total — representing a 12.0% rise compared with the same quarter of 2025.

Germany (up 3.8% to 9.5 million), Denmark (up 3.1% to 8.0 million) and France (up 2.3% to 5.6 million) are also expected to record increases.

- The Brussels Times