Agriculture - 1st quarter of 2015

In Q1 2015 the meat production amounted to 108 907 tonnes (+1.1%, y-o-y). Production increased in all main categories:  by 2.5% for beef, by 1.1% for poultrymeat, and by 0.7% for pigmeat. Prices of cattle for slaughter went up by 2.2%; they declined for chicken for slaughter by 0.5% and plummeted by 14.0% for pigs for slaughter. Milk collection rose to 600 230 thousand litres; its price declined by 10.5%, y-o-y.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q1 2015 the number of slaughtered cattle accounted for 56 377 heads; i.e. by 3.0% more, y-o-y. The number of slaughtered bulls stayed at the same level (−0.2%) and the number of slaughtered cows increased (+3.6%). The total beef and veal production amounted to 16 588 tonnes; it grew by 2.5%, y-o-y, and declined by 3.9% compared to that of Q4 2014.
The number of slaughtered pigs went down to 629 312 heads, i.e. by 1.6%, y-o-y. The pigmeat production, however, increased by 0.7% to 57 704 tonnes due to a higher average weight of slaughtered pigs (+2.2%).
The poultrymeat production reached 34 553 tonnes and was by 1.1% higher than that in Q4 2014.

Cattle, pig and poultry numbers
According to the results of the last survey in cattle as at 31 December 2014, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic was 1 373.1 thousand heads (+3.1%,y-o-y), of which 566.2 thous. heads were cows (+2.4%). The number of dairy cows slightly decreased (−0.8%) to 372.4 thous. heads; their number keeps the same level over a long period. On the other side, the number of beef cows increased (+9.2%) and their number is gradually growing since 2011.
The number of pigs as at 31 December 2014 increased to 1 606.9 thous. heads (+3.8%). Out of them 145.4 thous. heads were pigs for breeding (−5.3%), 640.6 thous. heads were pigs for fattening (+7.4%), and 820.9 thous. heads were pigs up to 50 kg of weight (+2.9%). High number of pigs for fattening at the beginning of Q1 2015 corresponds with their increased exports and unchanged domestic production during this quarter.
The number of poultry rose by 1.5% (to 21 132.1 thous. heads) and the number of laying hens increased by 3.8% (to 4 276.4 thous. heads).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs, and chicken for slaughter
In Q1 2015 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter moderately increased, y-o-y, for all categories: by 3.0% for bulls, by 1.4% for heifers, by 1.1% for cows, and by 0.1% for calves. The average price of bulls for slaughter was CZK 46.76 per kg of live weight and CZK 85.10 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter plummeted by 14.0%. Producers sold pigs for slaughter for the average price of CZK 28.54 per kg of live weight and of CZK 36.67 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter declined by 0.5%. The average price of chicken for slaughter of the first quality class was CZK 23.98 per kg of live weight.

External trade in live animals and meat
According to preliminary results, external trade¹⁾ in live animals in the period from December 2014 to February 2015 reached a positive balance in all livestock types: 16 307 tonnes for cattle, 5 625 tonnes for pigs, and 9 148 tonnes for poultry.
Typical features of external trade¹⁾ in live cattle were negligible imports (353 heads) and strong exports (47.8 thous. heads). In total 1.8 thous. heads of animals for breeding (−4.0%, y-o-y), 18.1 thous. heads of cattle for slaughter (11 562 tonnes, i.e. −11.4%) and 28.0 thous. heads of cattle intended for further rearing (4 009 tonnes, i.e. +17.6%) were exported. Exports of cattle for slaughter went mainly to Austria and those of cattle for further rearing to Spain, Belgium, Turkey and the Netherlands.
The category up to 50 kg prevailed in imports of live pigs. In total 76.9 thous heads (−5.1%, y-o-y) weighing on average 26.8 kg were imported. The category of pigs over 50 kg dominated in exports: 79.3 thous. heads of pigs for slaughter (9 517 tonnes, i.e. +59.1%) were exported with the average weight amounting to 119.9 kg. Piglets and young pigs were imported from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands; pigs for slaughter were exported mainly to Slovakia, Hungary and Germany.
As for external trade¹⁾ with live poultry, exports exceeded imports for both day old poultry and animals for slaughter. During the reference period, 3.6 million heads of one-day chicks (+3.7%, y-o-y) were imported and 24.0 million heads (+9.4%) of them were exported mostly to Germany. In total 3 976 tonnes (+3.7%) of chicken for slaughter were exported above all to Germany and Slovakia; imports were approximately ten times lower than exports.
External trade¹⁾ in meat showed a negative balance for all types: −3 645 tonnes for beef, −50 825 tonnes for pigmeat, and −19 812 tonnes for poultrymeat. The deficit deepened, y-o-y, for all types as well.
Imports of beef increased to 5 731 tonnes (+10.8%, y-o-y) and its exports to 2 086 tonnes (+18.3%). Imports came mainly from Poland, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria; the main partners for exports were Slovakia and, in lesser extent, the Netherlands.
In total 60 230 tonnes of pigmeat (+7.9%) were imported mostly from Germany, Spain and Poland and 9 404 tonnes (−11.9%) were exported mainly to Slovakia.
Imports of poultrymeat grew to 26 848 tonnes (+18.0%) while its exports decreased to 7 036 tonnes (−12.5%). Poultrymeat was imported from Poland and Brazil and exported to Slovakia.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q1 2015 dairies collected 600 230 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers, i.e. by 3.6% more than in Q1 2014.
Agricultural producer prices of milk decreased (−10.5%), y-o-y. Producers sold milk of Q quality class for the average price of CZK 8.68 per litre.

External trade in milk and milk products
In external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products, exports surpassed imports by 181 098 tonnes. In comparison with Q1 2014, imports went slightly down to 65 055 tonnes (−1.1%) and exports rose to 246 153 tonnes (+8.8%). Imports decreased by 8.6% for acidified milk products while they grew by 21.2% for butter and by 3.4% for cheese and curd. Exports increased in milk by 11.9%, in butter by 27.5%, and in cheese and curd by 3.0%. Exports of acidified milk products declined by 6.5%. Traditional trade partners were Germany and Slovakia for both directions and Poland for imports; an increase was recorded in exports to Italy.