Agriculture - 2nd quarter of 2016

In Q2 2016 the meat production amounted to 114 669 tonnes (+0.9%, year-on-year), of which 17 973 tonnes (+7.4%) were beef and veal, 57 527 tonnes (−0.7%) was pigmeat, and 39 137 tonnes (+0.5%) was poultrymeat. Agricultural producer prices of animals for slaughter went down, y-o-y, for pigs (−8.5%) and cattle (−2.5%), and remained almost the same for chicken for slaughter (+0.3%). Dairies purchased 634 764 thousand litres of milk (+1.1%) from domestic producers and collection centres. Its price was by 19.4% under the Q2 2015 level.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q2 2016 the number of slaughtered cattle was 59.6 thous. heads (+5.7%, y-o-y), of which 24.8 thous. were bulls (+0.8%), 26.5 thous. were cows (+11.3%), and 5.7 thous. were heifers (+7.0%). The average weight of slaughtered bulls was 665.2 kg. The total beef and veal production amounted to 17 973 tonnes (+7.4%).

The number of slaughtered pigs (630.7 thous.) recorded a lower decline rate: −1.1%, y-o-y. Due to higher average weight of slaughtered animals (116.2 kg; +1.6%) the pigmeat production went down only by 0.7% to 57 527 tonnes; it was by 6.2% higher than in Q1 2016.

Poultrymeat production reached 39 137 tonnes and was by 0.5% higher than in Q2 2015.

Cattle, pig and poultry numbers
At the beginning of Q2 2016, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic was 1 415.7 thous. heads (+0.6%, y-o-y), of which 583.7 thous. were cows (+0.6%). The number of dairy cows continued to decrease (−1.0%); the number of beef cows rose by 3.6%. The number of cattle less than one year old stayed approximately the same (+0.5%) while the number of bulls for fattening declined (−4.2%) and the number of replacement heifers went slightly up (+2.4%).

The number of pigs slightly increased, y-o-y, to 1 609.9 thous. heads (+3.2%) as well as the number of sows (to 97.1 thous. heads; +0.8%). An increment by 5.3% was recorded in pigs for fattening.

A year-on-year decline was observed in all main categories of poultry: in hens to 6 116.2 thous. heads (−2.9%), in chicken for fattening to 11 435.0 thous. heads (−5.7%), and in chicken for breeding to 2 657.9 thous. heads (−5.8%).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter
In Q2 2016 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter decreased, y-o-y, by 1.4% for bulls, by 4.3% for cows, and by 3.8% for heifers; only prices of calves for slaughter went up (by 9.7%). The average price of bulls for slaughter was 46.79 CZK per kg of live weight or 85.16 CZK per kg of carcass weight. 

Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter fell by 8.5%. Pigs for slaughter were sold on average for 26.24 CZK per kg of live weight or 34.11 CZK per kg of carcass weight.

Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter of the first quality class remained almost the same (+0.3%). Their average price was 23.77 CZK 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 March to May 2016 reached a positive balance in weight units in all three types (16 472 tonnes for cattle, 8 805 tonnes for pigs, and 8 420 tonnes for poultry).

Increasing trend in imports of live cattle continued; it concerned animals for further rearing and, newly, also animals for slaughter. Nevertheless, distinctly fewer animals were imported (6.3 thous. heads) than exported (51.2 thous. heads.). Most animals (33.8 thous. heads; +20.2%, y‑o-y) were exported for further rearing; 17.4 thous. heads (+2.1%) were intended for slaughter. This amount represents 11 202 tonnes of animals for slaughter and corresponds to average monthly meat production in the Czech Republic. Live cattle were imported mainly from Italy, Austria and Slovakia; it was exported above all to Turkey, Austria and Germany.

Imports of live pigs in the category up to 50 kg (piglets) continued to fall. In total 52.8 thous. heads (−34.8%, y-o-y) weighing on average 25.7 kg were imported; on the contrary, their exports rose to 22.4 thous. heads (+12.4%). The category over 50 kg prevailed in exports. In total 79.6 thous. pigs for slaughter (+11.6%) were imported; their average weight was 120.6 kg. Live pigs were imported from Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands, exports went mostly to Germany, Slovakia and Hungary.

As for external trade in live poultry, a year-on-year increase was recorded in imports in the category of day-old chicks (to 3.9 million heads, +35.7%) together with their declined exports (22.5 million heads, −24.7%). Exports of ducklings distinctly rose (to 2.8 million heads, +54.2%). Exports of chicken for slaughter amounted to 4 188 tonnes (+10.1%). Their imports were approximately fivefold lower than exports. Live poultry came from Hungary, Germany and Slovakia; it was exported to Slovakia, Poland, Germany and Romania.

External trade¹⁾ in meat showed a negative balance for all three types (−4 730 tonnes for beef, −53 799 tonnes for pigmeat, and −19 667 tonnes for poultrymeat).

The deficit of external trade deepened in beef. Its imports increased to 7 438 tonnes (+17.0%, y‑o-y) and exports to 2 708 tonnes (+20.0%). Beef was imported mostly from Poland, the Netherlands and Slovakia; it was exported mainly to Slovakia but also to Hungary and the Netherlands.

In total 63 081 tonnes of pigmeat (−0.5%, y-o-y) were imported mainly from Germany, Spain and Poland; only 9 282 tonnes (+1.7%) were exported mostly to Slovakia.

Imports of poultrymeat increased to 29 105 tonnes (+3.9%, y-o-y) and its exports to 9 438 tonnes (+30.0%). Poultrymeat came mainly from Poland and to a lesser extent from Hungary, its imports from Brazil distinctly dropped; it was exported to Slovakia.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q2 2016, dairies collected 634 764 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers and collection centres; it is by 1.1% more in comparison with Q2 2015.

Nevertheless, agricultural producer prices of milk were by 19.4% lower than in Q2 2015. The producers sold Q-quality milk on average for 6.56 CZK per litre, i.e. by 0.74 CZK per litre cheaper than in Q1 2016.

External trade in milk and milk products
In external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products, exports distinctly exceeded imports and the trade surplus decreased to 187 841 tonnes, y-o-y. Imports rose to 74 526 tonnes (+10.6%, y-o-y) while exports went slightly down to 262 367 tonnes (−0.9%). The largest increment in imports was observed in milk and cream (+25.5%); their exports declined by 5.6%. Imports of acidified milk products fell by 8.0% while their exports were up by 9.5%. The trade in cheese and curd recorded increased imports (+9.7%) as well as exports (+22.5%). The main trade partners for milk and milk products were Germany, Slovakia and Poland for both directions together with Italy for exports.
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Notes:
Published data are final, except external trade data.
Responsible head at the CZSO: Jiří Hrbek, phone 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz
Source: Livestock Slaughtering (Czech Statistical Office), Livestock Survey (Czech Statistical Office), Agricultural Producer Price Indices (Czech Statistical Office), External Trade Database (Czech Statistical Office), data on milk collection and poultry purchase (Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic)
End of data collection: 8 July 2016
End of data processing: 27 July 2016
Following tables: https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/livestock-slaughtering-may-2016
https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/livestock-survey-as-at-1-april-2016
https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/agricultural-producer-price-indices-june-2016
Date of the next News Release publication: 31 October 2016

This press release was not edited for language.