September 10, 2024
Continuous fall in Belgium's pig, cattle inventories last year
Belgium's pig and cattle inventories continued to decline in 2023, while the country's poultry inventory increased, according to Statbel statistics.
The aging of farmers and the uncertainty surrounding permits and nitrogen regulations contribute to the decline.
The pig inventory decreased by 6.5% in October 2023, compared to October 2022. The drop occurred in both finishing and breeding pigs. The number of pig farms also decreased. In Flanders, this number decreased by 7.4% and in Wallonia, by 11.6%.
The cattle inventory shrank again last year. In October 2023, there were 2.25 million animals, 1.8% less than in October 2022. The number of cattle farms in Belgium fell by 3.3%.
The poultry inventory increased by 2.3% in 2023, attributable to the increase in the broiler chicken subsector (+3.7%). This increase was offset by a 9.9% decrease in poultry farms.
- Vilt