Slaughtering and meat production

In Q2 2017 the number of slaughtered cattle was 55.2 thous. head (−7.4%, y-o-y), of which 23.1 thous. were bulls (−6.9%), 24.2 thous. were cows (−8.9%), and 5.6 thous. were heifers (−1.7%). The total beef production amounted to 16 521 tonnes (−8.1%). The declining trend in the number of slaughtered cattle and the beef production continued during the reference period. The largest decrease was recorded for cows (−10.7%); it is a signal of lesser extent of their culling aimed to ensuring sufficient number of calves for further rearing.  

The long-term decline of the number of slaughtered pigs continued (599.4 thous. head; −5.0%). Similarly to slaughtering of cows out of cattle, slaughtering of sows went distinctly down (by 23.3%, y-o-y, and by 7.6% compared to Q1 2017). In total 53 745 tonnes of pigmeat (−6.6%) were produced.

Poultrymeat production in Q2 2017 recorded a slight increase, y-o-y, to 40 402 tonnes (+3.2%).

Cattle, pig, and poultry numbers

According to results of Livestock Survey, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic at the beginning of Q2 2017 was 1 421.2 thous. head (+0.4%, y-o-y). The number of cows went up; a slight decrease was observed in dairy cows (by 0.7%; to 369.8 thous. head) while the number of other (beef) cows rose by 2.3% (to 216.1 thous. head). The age category of 1-2 years recorded a slight increase (+1.7%) due to higher number of bulls for fattening (+6.6%), although the number of replacement heifers went negligibly down (−0.8%).

The number of pigs decreased, y-o-y, to 1 490.8 thous. head (−7.4%). The largest drop was recorded in pigs for fattening (−12.2%). It can be assumed that significantly lower number of pigs for fattening in the category of 50-80 kg (−14.6%) at the beginning of Q2 2017 will influence the number of pigs from indigenous farms intended for slaughter at the turn of the half-year when they reach their slaughter weight. Number of sows dropped as well; they were by 6.2% lower in comparison with the previous year.

The number of poultry stayed almost the same, y-o-y (21 494.3 thous. head; +0.8%). The number of hens rose to 6 835.7 thous. head (+11.8%) as well as the number of ducks (to 549.7 thous.; +10.4%). On the contrary, declines were observed for broilers (to 10 938.4 thous.; −4.3%), reared pullets (to 2 552.2 thous.; −4.0%), geese (to 18.1 thous.; −7.9%) and turkeys (to 339.7 thous.; −9.3%).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter

In Q2 2016 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter slightly grew, y-o-y, for all categories: by 1.4% for bulls, by 2.6% for cows, by 3.9% for heifers and by 8.3% for calves for slaughter. The average price of bulls for slaughter was 47.44 CZK per kg of live weight or 86.34 CZK per kg of carcass weight. 

Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter went up, y-o-y, by 27.4%. Pigs for slaughter were sold on average for 33.43 CZK per kg of live weight or 43.46 CZK per kg of carcass weight.

Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter were by 3.6% below the last year’s level. The producers sold chicken for slaughter average price of the first quality class for 22.90 CZK per kg of live weight.

External trade in live animals and meat

According to preliminary results, external trade^[1]) in live animals in the period from March to May 2017 reached a positive balance in weight units in all three types (17 371 tonnes for cattle, 5 507 tonnes for pigs, and 11 016 tonnes for poultry).

Exports of live cattle (49.7 thous. head) distinctly exceeded their imports (0.6 thous. head), although it went slightly down, y-o-y (−2.8%). Exports of animals for slaughter declined (to 16.0 thous. head and 10 462 tonnes of live weight); the number of animals for further rearing stayed at the same level (33.8 thous. head). Cattle were exported mainly to Austria (ones for slaughter); exports to Turkey continued (cattle both for breeding and for further rearing) and those to Poland newly become important (mainly animals for further rearing).

Imports of live pigs recorded a slight increase, y-o-y; the category up to 50 kg prevailed. In total 54.9 thous. head (+3.8%) weighing on average 25.6 kg were imported. Pigs for slaughter were exported the most; however, their exports considerably declined (to 58.6 thous. head; −31.1%). Live pigs were imported from Germany (all categories), Denmark (pigs for breeding and piglets) and the Netherlands (solely piglets); exports went mostly to Slovakia (pigs for slaughter and piglets), Hungary (all categories) and Germany (pigs for slaughter and piglets).

External trade in live poultry recorded a positive balance both in day-old juveniles and poultry for slaughter. During the reference period in total 3.9 million day-old chicks (−4.9%, y-o-y) were imported and 23.3 million head (+3.9%) were exported. Exports of chicks for slaughter accounted for 7 485 tonnes (+19.5%). Hungary participated the most on imports of live poultry (parent generation day-old chicks) followed by Germany (final generation day-old chicks, ducklings and turkey poults) and Slovakia (final generation day-old chicks, chicks and hens for slaughter). Live poultry was exported mainly to Slovakia (juveniles of all species and chicks for slaughter), Germany (fattened turkeys and chicks), Poland (all poultry species and categories) and Romania (day-old utility chicks).

External trade¹⁾ in meat showed a deepening negative balance for all three types (−6 843 tonnes for beef, −57 085 tonnes for pigmeat, and −21 562 tonnes for poultrymeat).

Imports of beef rose to 9 385 tonnes (+19.0%, y-o-y) and its exports went down to 2 542 tonnes (−6.2%). Beef was imported mostly from Poland, the Netherlands and Slovakia; it was exported mainly to Slovakia.

Imports of pigmeat showed a y-o-y increase as well. In total 66 053 tonnes (+3.1%) were imported while its exports slightly declined to 8 968 tonnes (−3.4%). Pigmeat came from Germany, Poland and in increased amount from Spain. Exports were directed prevailingly to Slovakia.

Increased deficit of external trade in poultrymeat was influenced, y-o-y, also by higher imports and lower exports. During the reference period there were 30 413 tonnes (+1.2%) imported, mainly from Poland, and 8 850 tonnes (−6.7%) were exported, mostly to Slovakia. Both sides of the trade recorded an increased share for Germany.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk

In Q2 2017, dairies collected 748 179 thous. litres of milk (+7.7%) from domestic producers, of which 635 692 thous. litres (+0.1%) by dairies.  

Agricultural producer prices of milk were by 26.1% higher than in Q2 2016. The producers sold Q-quality milk on average for 8.28 CZK per litre, i.e. by 0.43 CZK per litre more than in Q1 2017. A comparable price was paid to producers in Q2 2015 for the last time.

External trade in milk and milk products

Considerable surplus in external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products went further up, y-o-y, to 203 128 tonnes. Imports distinctly decreased (−14.3%; to 65 653 tonnes) while exports slightly rose (+2.4%, to 268 781 tonnes). Milk and cream influenced both lower imports and higher exports the most; by 10 424 tonnes less milk and cream were imported and by 14 006 tonnes more were exported. The main trade partners for milk and milk products were Germany and Slovakia for both directions together with Poland for imports and Italy for exports.

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Notes:

Published data are final, except external trade data.

Responsible head: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 274 052 331, e-mail jiri.hrbek@czso.cz
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 274 052 331, e-mail jiri.hrbek@czso.cz
Data source:
Statistical survey of the Czech Statistical Office on livestock slaughtering (Zem 1-12), Livestock Survey (Zem1-01)
Publication of the CZSO: Agricultural Producer Price Indices (code 011045-17)
External Trade Database of the CZSO
Outcomes of statistical surveys of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic on milk collection (Mlék(MZe) 6-12, Odbyt(MZe)6-12) and on poultry purchase (Drůb (MZe) 4-12)
End of data collection: 10 July 2017
End of data processing: 25 July 2017
Related outcomes:
Livestock Slaughtering https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-slaughtering-may-2017
Livestock Survey https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-survey-as-at-1-april-2017
Agricultural Producer Price Indices https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=statistiky&katalog=31785#katalog=31785 
Date of the next News Release publication: 30 October 2017

This press release was not edited for language.