Livestock

Within the last year the number of cattle farms on the reference day decreased by 2.4% to 55 000. The average livestock density rose to 34 cattle per holding.

About the methodology

The present statistics is based on Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008 concerning livestock and meat statistics; implemented under Ordinance Federal Law Gazette II No. 163/2012 (available in German only) issued by the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The bovine livestock was determined through an evaluation of the central cattle database pursued by Agrarmarkt Austria in combination with data from the Association of Austrian Cattle Breeders. The administrative data were consolidated by the Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research, which also subsequently processed the results.

Pig livestock 1 December 2020

With an increase of 1.2% or 33 200 animals, the total stock of pigs rose to 2.81 million. Compared to the previous year the number of piglets and young pigs (+2.3% to 1.40 million) rose as well as that of pigs for fattening (+0.5% to 1.17 million), whereas the stock of pigs for breeding (-1.5% to 231 000 animals) fell.

In detail, the number of piglets increased by 2.0% to 664 000 and that of young pigs by 2.5% to 740 000 animals. Furthermore, the number of pigs for fattening weighing 50 to less than 80 kg (+0.1% to 558 000) remained stable, while the number of fattening pigs weighing 80 to less than 110 kg declined by 1.4% to 463 000 animals and pigs with at least 110 kg of weight increased by 8.7% to 150 000. Among breeding sows, both the number of young breeding sows (-1.2% to 46 200) and that of old breeding sows (-1.5% to 181 000) dropped. The total number of covered breeding sows slightly increased to 162 000 animals (+0.3%).

At regional level, the share of the three Laender (federal states) most relevant for pig production – Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Styria – slightly rose to 93.6% of the total stock (2019: 93.5%).

About the methodology

The survey is based on Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008 concerning livestock and meat statistics; implemented under Ordinance Federal Law Gazette II No. 163/2012 (available in German only) issued by the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The data on the stock of pigs, sheep and goats was collected by a separated livestock sample survey at around 7 000 holdings directly.

Sheep and goat livestock 1 December 2020

The number of sheep fell by 2.2% to 394 000 animals, while that of goats rose slightly by 0.3% to 92 800. Compared to December 2019 both sheep categories, the number of ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram (-2.3% to 235 000 animals) and other sheep (-2.0% to 158 000), showed declines. The number of goats that have already kidded and goats that have been mated (-0.7% to 59 700) dropped slightly, while the stock of other goats increased (+2.0% to 33 000 animals).

About the methodology

The survey is based on Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008 concerning livestock and meat statistics; implemented under Ordinance Federal Law Gazette II No. 163/2012 (available in German only) issued by the Federal Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Environment and Water Management. The data on the stock of pigs, sheep and goats was collected by a separated livestock sample survey at around 7 000 holdings directly.