Agriculture - 3rd quarter of 2017

In Q3 2017 the meat production amounted to 107 205 tonnes (by 2.8% less, year-on-year), of which 15 900 tonnes (−7.0%) was beef, 50 835 tonnes (−5.2%) was pigmeat, and 40 419 tonnes (+2.0%) was poultrymeat. External trade in live animals recorded a decline in exports of cattle for further rearing and a constant decrease in imports of piglets. Agricultural producer prices of animals for slaughter went up, y-o-y, for cattle (+3.4%) and for pigs (+8.1%), while those for chicken for slaughter declined (−1.6%). Dairies and collection centres purchased 731 114 thousand litres of milk (+8.7%) from producers. Prices of milk were, compared to low level of Q3 2016, by 38.4% higher.
 

Slaughtering and meat production

In Q3 2017 the number of slaughtered cattle was 53.9 thous. head, i.e. by 6.8% less, y-o-y, of which 21.7 thous. were bulls (−9.0%), 24.8 thous. were cows (−7.1%), and 5.0 thous. were heifers (+3.9%). The total beef production reached 15 900 tonnes (−7.0%). Declines in the number of slaughtered cattle and in beef production continued during the reference period; the largest drop was observed in bulls (−9.5%), i.e. the main category for beef production.

The number of slaughtered pigs recorded a long-term decrease as well; in total 566.7 thous. head (−5.7%) were slaughtered during Q3 2017. The pigmeat production was 50 835 tonnes (−5.2%).

Poultrymeat production reached 40 419 tonnes and was by 2.0% higher than in Q3 2016.
 

Cattle and pig numbers

According to the results of the Cattle Production Survey, the number of cattle at the beginning of Q3 2017 in the Czech Republic was 1 420.0 thous. head; i.e. by 2.6% more, y‑o‑y. The number of cows rose by 1.5%, out of which the number of dairy ones declined by 2.0% (to 364.3 thous. head) and the number of other (beef) cows went up by 8.0% (to 214.4 thous. head). The number of cattle aged between 1 and 2 years remained almost the same (+0.8%) due to increased number of bulls for fattening (+5.2%) although the number of replacement heifers went down (−1.1%).

The number of pigs as at 31 July 2017 almost did not change, y-o-y (1 563.5 thous. head, −0.5%). A substantial drop was recorded for pigs for fattening, especially for those of 80 kg and over, i.e. pigs for slaughter in the period immediately following (−7.4%). The number of piglets up to 20 kg increased by 9.8%. The number of sows stayed the same, y-o-y (93.3 thous. head; +0.3%); the number of covered sows went up (+2.2%) as well as the number of gilts (+7.4%).
 

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter

In Q3 2017 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter slightly increased for all categories: by 1.8% for bulls, by 6.1% for cows, by 3.7% for heifers, and by 9.9% for calves. The average price of bulls for slaughter was 47.77 CZK per kg of live weight or 86.94 CZK per kg of carcass weight. 

Average agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter increased, y-o-y, by 8.1%. The producers sold pigs for slaughter for on average 34.23 CZK per kg of live weight or 44.50 CZK per kg of carcass weight. 

Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter fell by 1.6% under the Q3 2016 level. The average price of chicken for slaughter of the first quality class was 23.13 CZK per kg of live weight.
 

External trade in live animals and meat

According to preliminary results of external trade¹⁾ in live animals in the period from June to August 2017, exports of live animals exceeded imports. This persistent surplus slightly declined, y-o-y, for cattle, while it distinctly decreased for pigs and slightly rose for poultry.

Exports of live cattle (50.0 thous. head) distinctly exceeded its imports (1.9 thous. head), although it went slightly down, y-o-y (−3.7%) due to lowered exports of animals for further rearing (31.6 thous. head; −6.7%). Considerably more animals for slaughter were imported (1.4 thous. head and 820 tonnes), while their exports remained almost at the same level (18.4 thous. head and 12 012 tonnes in live weight). The largest share on exports was recorded for animals sold to Turkey (ones for breeding, for further rearing and also for slaughter); exports of cattle went also to Austria (mostly animals for slaughter).

External trade in live pigs recorded significant year-on-year changes during the reference period. Although the category up to 50 kg prevailed steadily in imports of live pigs, only 31.4 thous. head were enough for balancing the demand for piglets as their imports went down to 47.4 thous. head (−10.3%) and their exports reached 16.1 thous. head. Mostly animals for slaughter were exported; their number also declined (to 55.5 thous. head; −10.4%), however the total balance for live pigs remained in surplus. Pigs were imported from Germany (piglets as well as pigs for slaughter), Denmark (pigs for breeding and piglets) and the Netherlands (only piglets); they were exported to Slovakia (mostly pigs for slaughter), Hungary (all categories) and Germany (pigs for slaughter and piglets).

External trade in live poultry showed a positive balance both in day-old juveniles and poultry for slaughter. During the reference period, 3.1 million head of day-old chicks were imported (−5.7%, y-o-y) and 22.6 million head were exported (+5.5%). Exports of chicken and hens for slaughter amounted to 7 215 tonnes (−9.6%). Countries participating in imports of live poultry the most were Germany (day-old juveniles), Hungary (day-old chicks) and Slovakia (utility day-old chicks, broilers and hens for slaughter). Live poultry went mainly to Slovakia (juveniles of all species and chicken for slaughter), Germany (day-old ducklings, fattened turkeys and chicken) and Poland (all poultry species and categories).

External trade¹⁾ in meat showed a larger negative balance compared to the same period of the last year (−7 109 tonnes for beef, −57 556 tonnes for pigmeat, and −19 865 tonnes for poultrymeat).

The deficit of external trade in beef deepened the most, y-o-y. Its imports increased to 9 652 tonnes (+21.5%), while its exports went down to 2 543 tonnes (−2.8%). Beef was imported mostly from Poland, the Netherlands and Germany. It was exported mainly to Slovakia but also to the Netherlands and to Poland.

Imports of pigmeat recorded a slight year-on-year increase again; in total 66 466 tonnes were imported (+3.7%), while its exports declined to 8 910 tonnes (−10.2%). Pigmeat came from Germany, Spain and Poland. It was exported mostly to Slovakia.

Increased year-on-year deficit in external trade with poultrymeat was caused also by higher imports and lower exports. During the reference period, in total 28 969 tonnes (+4.3%) were imported mainly from Poland and 9 104 tonnes (−2.7%) were exported, mostly to Slovakia.
 

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk

In Q3 2017, 731 114 thous. litres of milk were collected (+8.7%) from domestic producers, of which 626 600 thous. litres (+2.0%) by dairies.

Agricultural producer prices of milk were, compared to low level recorded in Q3 2016, by 38.4% higher than in Q3 2016. The producers sold Q-quality milk on average for 8.51 CZK per litre, i.e. by 0.23 CZK per litre more than in Q2 2017.
 

External trade in milk and milk products

The distinct surplus in external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products declined, y-o-y, to 183 419 tonnes. Imports went down (−12.4%; to 64 050 tonnes) as well as exports (−10.1%; to 247 470 tonnes). Milk and cream had the largest share on the decline on both sides: their imports went down by 9 759 tonnes and their exports by 22 424 tonnes. The external trade with butter decreased, y-o-y, by 810 tonnes (−17.3%) for imports and by 367 tonnes (−39.4%) for exports. 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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¹⁾ Intrastat does not include individual trading operations carried out by persons who are not registered for VAT as well as reporting units below the applicable thresholds of CZK 8 million a year for both flows are not under reporting duty for Intrastat.

Notes:

Published data are final, except external trade data.

Responsible head: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 274 052 331, e-mail jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone (+420) 274 052 331, e-mail jiri.hrbek@csu.gov.cz

Data source:
Statistical survey of the Czech Statistical Office on livestock slaughtering (Zem 1-12), on cattle production (Zem1-02), and on pig production (Zem2-02)
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 October 2017
End of data processing: 25 October 2017

Related outcomes:
Livestock Slaughtering
https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/livestock-slaughtering-august-2017; publication date of the detailed September figures: 6 November 2017
Cattle Production
https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/cattle-production-1st-half-of-2017
Pig Production
https://csu.gov.cz/produkty/pig-production-as-at-31-july-2017
Prices of Agriculture
https://vdb.czso.cz/vdbvo2/faces/en/index.jsf?page=statistiky&katalog=31785#katalog=31785

Date of the next News Release publication: 30 January 2018

This press release was not edited for language.