Animal Production - 3rd quarter of 2024

"Meat production rose in Q3 2024, year-on-year, most notably for pigmeat, due to the low comparison base. The higher pigmeat production is riding the wave of more favourable prices in the past. However, currently falling prices are leading farmers to reduce the size of their herd, as it was seen in increased slaughtering of sows in this quarter," Renata Vodičková, head of the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the CZSO, explained.

“In the third quarter, farmers were successful in delivering animals for slaughter to slaughterhouses at home and abroad. Deliveries increased for cattle, pigs and poultry. After taking into account the balance of meat imports and exports, the preliminary calculated domestic consumption of beef, pigmeat, and poultry increased as well," Markéta Fiedlerová from the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the Czech Statistical Office, added.

Meat production and milk collection

In total 53.4 thous. head of cattle were slaughtered at slaughterhouses in Q3 2024, almost the same number as in Q3 2023 (+0.2%). However, the structure of the categories of animals slaughtered changed, with a decrease in slaughtering of bulls (−6.3%) and an increase in slaughtering of cows (+4.4%) and heifers (+5.5%). Beef production reached 16 218 tonnes and was by 0.5% lower than in Q3 2023. Pigmeat production amounted to 52 109 tonnes (by 12.7% more, y-o-y). In total 570.1 thous. pigs were delivered to slaughterhouses. Slaughtering of sows increased by 20.2%, y-o-y. Poultry slaughterhouses slaughtered 66 720 tonnes of poultry, which corresponds to 43 355 tonnes (+4.5%) of poultrymeat produced. In total 785 650 thous. litres of milk (+0.1%) were purchased from domestic producers in Q3 2024.

Agricultural producer prices

Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went up by 8.3%, y-o-y, in Q3 2024 in all categories surveyed; prices of slaughter bull rose the most. Farmers received on average 62.89 CZK per kg in live weight or 114.46 CZK per kg in carcass weight. Prices of pigs for slaughter decreased, y-o-y, by 9.0%. The average price reached 39.69 CZK per kg in live weight or 51.60 CZK per kg in carcass weight. However, prices of weaned pigs were up, y-o-y, by 5.3%. The prices of chicken for slaughter fell by 6.8%, y-o-y. Chicken for slaughter of the first quality class were sold on average for 27.77 CZK per kg in live weight. Agricultural producer prices of milk were by 10.5% higher, y-o-y. The average price of Q-quality milk reached 11.19 CZK per litre.

More detailed information on meat production in Q3 2024 can be found in the supplementary information to the News Release on Animal production.