Animal Production - 1st quarter of 2025

"Pigmeat production at slaughterhouses rose for the fifth consecutive quarter and reached its last peak in 2021. The increase in poultrymeat production is more gradual compared to pigmeat. Beef production declined after 2021 and remained at this low level until now," Renata Vodičková, head of the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the CZSO, summarized trends of meat production.

“Beef production at slaughterhouses slightly declined, but exports of live cattle going to be slaughtered abroad increased. Imports of beef fell substantially in response to increasing prices, and, consequently, the preliminary calculated beef consumption dropped as well,” Markéta Fiedlerová from the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the Czech Statistical Office, added.

Meat production and milk collection
In total 17 217 tonnes of beef were produced at slaughterhouses in Q1 2025, i.e. by 1.3% less, y-o-y. It represents 55.5 thous. head of slaughtered cattle (−1.6%). The number of slaughtered bulls decreased (−4.0%) as well as the number of slaughtered heifers (−5.8%) and calves (−10.9%), while slaughtering of cows increased by 1.6%. Pigmeat production amounted to 54 581 tonnes, i.e. by 6.6% more, y-o-y. In total 571.4 thous. pigs were delivered to slaughterhouses. Slaughtering of sows increased again, y-o-y, by 17.8%. Poultry slaughterhouses slaughtered 29 073 thous. head of poultry, of which 27 672 thous. chicken and the rest were  hens, ducks, and turkeys. Production of meat of these poultry species amounted to 43 452 tonnes (+6.7%, y-o-y). In total 806 181 thous. litres of milk (−0.1%) were purchased from domestic producers by first purchasers in Q1 2025.

Agricultural producer prices
Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went up by 20.1%, y-o-y, in Q1 2025 in all categories surveyed; prices of cows and calves for slaughter rose the most (+25.7% and +25.8%, respectively). Farmers received on average 69.39 CZK per kg in live weight or 126.29 CZK per kg in carcass weight. Prices of pigs for slaughter decreased, y-o-y, by 11.2%. Their average price reached 35.37 CZK per kg in live weight or 45.98 CZK per kg in carcass weight. The prices of chicken for slaughter went negligibly up by 0.5%, y-o-y. Chicken for slaughter of the first quality class were sold on average for 28.40 CZK per kg in live weight. Agricultural producer prices of milk were by 17.9% higher, y-o-y. The average price of Q‑quality milk reached 12.86 CZK per litre.

More detailed information on meat production in Q1 2025 can be found in the supplementary information to the News Release on Animal production.
 

¹⁾ From 2025 onwards, quarterly data on poultry meat production is available only for the following species: chickens (chicken, hens), ducks, and turkeys. In 2024, the share of meat from these species in total poultry production was 99.95%.