Animal Production - 4th quarter of 2024

"Even in the last quarter of 2024, the largest contributor to the increase in meat production at slaughterhouses was the growth of pigmeat production. However, for farmers, prices of pigs for slaughter declined again. On the contrary, prices of cattle for slaughter went up, year-on-year, but beef production in slaughterhouses declined. Poultrymeat production and prices of poultry for slaughter showed only slight year-on-year changes," Renata Vodičková, head of the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the CZSO, summarized.

In 2024, the production increased after a two-year decline in pigmeat and poultrymeat. Beef production declined, but farms retained their potential to produce. Animals for slaughter were exported for slaughtering abroad to a greater extent. Direct purchases of milk from producers rose for the third year in a row," Markéta Fiedlerová from the Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit of the Czech Statistical Office, added.

Meat production and milk collection
In total 60.3 thous. head of cattle were slaughtered at slaughterhouses in Q4 2024, i.e. by 3.8% less, y-o-y. The number of slaughtered bulls and cows decreased (−6.8% and −2.8%, respectively), while slaughtering of heifers increased (+4.4%). Beef production reached 18 486 tonnes. It was the highest quarterly value in 2024; however, it was still by 2.7% lower than in Q4 2023. Pigmeat production amounted to 55 617 tonnes (by 7.8% more, y-o-y). In total 596.1thous. pigs were delivered to slaughterhouses. Slaughtering of sows increased by 17.7%, y-o-y. Poultry slaughterhouses slaughtered 64 852 tonnes of poultry, which corresponds to 42 179 tonnes (+0.2%) of poultrymeat produced. In total 763 124 thous. litres of milk (−0.4%) were purchased from domestic producers in Q4 2024.

Agricultural producer prices
Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went up by 13.6%, y-o-y, in Q4 2024 in all categories surveyed; prices of cows and calves slaughter rose the most (+16.5% and +16.9%, respectively). Farmers received on average 63.87 CZK per kg in live weight or 116.24 CZK per kg in carcass weight. Prices of pigs for slaughter decreased, y-o-y, by 6.8%. The average price reached 38.13 CZK per kg in live weight or 49.57 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 1.2%, y-o-y. Chicken for slaughter of the first quality class were sold on average for 28.17 CZK per kg in live weight. Agricultural producer prices of milk were by 17.8% higher, y-o-y. The average price of Q‑quality milk reached 12.10 CZK per litre, i.e. by 0.91 CZK more than in Q3 2024.

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