European livestock declines, pig production grows

Livestock production in the European Union shows a mixed picture in 2026. While the number of cattle, sheep, and goats is clearly declining, pig numbers are increasing. The latest forecasts therefore point to clear shifts within European meat production. Differences between animal types and Member States are particularly noticeable.

Fewer cattle in the EU

For the second half of 2026, total EU cattle production is estimated at 11.4 million head. This is 0.5 million fewer than in the same period in 2025. This represents a decline of 4.2%.

France is expected to remain the largest producer, accounting for 23.1% of the total. Production there is set to decline slightly by 0.4% to 2.63 million head. Germany shows a similar trend, with an expected decrease of 0.6% to 1.7 million head. In Ireland, the decline is sharper, with production projected to fall by 5.2% to 0.9 million head. Spain is the exception and is expected to grow by 2.7% to 1.1 million head.

Sharp decline in sheep and goats

A clear decrease is also expected for sheep and goats. Sheep numbers are projected to fall by 17.8% to 12.2 million head. Goat production is set to decline by 17.1% to 1.9 million head.

Spain will remain the largest sheep producer, but production there is expected to drop sharply. In the second half of 2026, numbers are projected to reach 2.3 million head, a decline of 40.4%. Greece remains the leading producer of goat meat, despite an expected decrease of 2.6% to 0.8 million head.

Growth in pig production

Pig production presents a different picture. In the fourth quarter of 2026, production is expected to reach 61.2 million head. This is an increase of 3.2% compared to the same period in 2025.

Spain is expected to remain the largest producer with 15.8 million pigs, accounting for 25.7% of the total. This represents growth of 12.0%. Germany, Denmark, and France are also expected to see increases, at 3.8%, 3.1%, and 2.3% respectively.

Ec.europa.eu/eurostat