Eurostat Forecast: Livestock Production Trends in the EU – Second Half of 2025

Brussels, March 2025

According to the latest estimates from Eurostat, livestock production across the European Union is expected to show mixed trends in the second half of 2025, depending on the species.

Cattle production: moderate growth at EU level

Cattle production is projected to reach 12.1 million head in the second half of 2025, marking a 2.1% increase compared to the same period in 2024 (11.9 million head).

• France is expected to remain the EU's largest beef producer, accounting for 22% of total production, despite a slight decline of -1.6% (to 2.6 million head).
• Other key producing countries are forecasted to see increases:
• Germany: +1.0% (1.9 million head)
• Spain: +17.4% (1.2 million head)
• Ireland: +7.5% (1.1 million head)

Romania ranks 9th among EU cattle producers.

Sheep production: significant decline

Sheep production in the EU is forecasted to decrease by 7% in the second half of 2025, reaching 14.5 million head compared to the same period in 2024.

Spain is projected to experience a sharper decline of -14.6%, twice the EU average, yet it will continue to be the EU's largest sheep producer, accounting for just over a quarter of the total EU output.

Goat production: slight increase

Goat production is expected to rise by 1.7% to 2.4 million head across the EU in the second half of 2025.

• Greece will remain the largest goat meat producer in the EU, with an estimated 1.0 million head.
• Spain is forecasted to produce 0.6 million head, reflecting a 12% increase compared to the second half of 2024.

Pig production: downward trend

Quarterly forecasts for pig production indicate a 2.7% decrease in Q4 2025, dropping to 57.1 million head, compared to Q4 2024.

• Spain will maintain its position as the leading pig producer in the EU, with 12.0 million head projected in Q4 2025 (representing 21% of the EU total), although this marks a significant decline of approximately -9%.
• Other notable trends include:
• Germany: +0.6% (8.9 million head)
• Netherlands: +0.1% (5.6 million head)
• Denmark: -3.2% (7.9 million head)
• France: -1.0% (5.7 million head)