Belgium sees lowest pig slaughter numbers in years

The Belgian meat industry experienced a significant drop in pig slaughters over the past year. Recent figures from the statistics bureau Statbel show that 9.4 million pigs were slaughtered in Belgium, which is 11 percent less than the previous year. This reduction represents nearly 1.2 million fewer slaughtered pigs, taking the slaughter figures even below those of the crisis year 2019.

This decline has brought the number of slaughtered pigs in Belgium back to a level last seen in 1990. Despite this downturn in the pig sector, the slaughters in 2023 yielded a total of 930 million kilos in dressed weight. This figure accounts for 58 percent of the total weight of all slaughtered animals in Belgium.

Other meat industry sectors

As the pig sector contracts, poultry remains a key player in the Belgian meat industry. With 26 percent of the total dressed weight, the 26 million slaughtered chickens – a slight increase from 2022 – rank second. These chickens together contributed 421 million kilos in dressed weight. The beef sector is in third place, comprising 15 percent. In 2023, 771,000 cattle were slaughtered, a 2 percent increase, producing a dressed weight of 240 million kilos.

Diversity in slaughtered animals

In addition to the main categories, Statbel also reports the slaughter of 57,000 turkeys, 3,000 ducks, and 5,000 other poultry in 2023. Furthermore, 6,000 sheep, 3,000 goats, and 120 horses were slaughtered. These figures illustrate the diversity within the Belgian meat industry and indicate a shift in demand and supply of different types of meat.

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