Livestock population in the EU continued to decline last year

The population of animals in the European Union will continue to decline in 2024, according to Eurostat.

The population of all livestock declined compared to the previous year: pigs by 0.5% to 132 million, large horned cattle by 2.8% to 72 million, sheep by 1.7% to 57 million and goats by 1.6% to 10 million.

The decline in the livestock population has reinforced a long-term trend in the EU, the Community's official statistics agency notes.

Compared to 2014, the pig population was down 8.1 per cent last year, the population of large horned animals 8.7 per cent, sheep 9.4 per cent and goats 16.3 per cent.