Slaughterings

With a decrease of 2.1% compared to the previous year, the number of cattle slaughtered dropped to a total of 625 000 head. The number of bulls slaughtered, the proportionally most important subgroup among cattle, fell by 4.1% to 260 000 head. The number of bullocks slaughtered also declined slightly to 37 300 head (-0.4%). Within female cattle the number of slaughtered cows dropped by 2.2% to 201 000 head, whereas that of heifers rose by 1.7% to 127 000 head. Calves represent a separate group within the slaughter statistics. Their slaughter volume decreased slightly to 55 100 head (-0.2%). As a result, beef production dropped by 1.6% to 224 000 tonnes as well as veal meat by 1.3% to 5 600 tonnes.

A total of 5 086 000 pigs were slaughtered in 2019. This represents a decrease of 1.3% compared to the previous year. The meat yield for pork fell by 1.1% to 504 000 tonnes.

The total number of sheep and lamb slaughterings increased by 15.9% to 342 000 head in 2019. Consequently mutton and lamb meat rose by 4.3% to 7 000 tonnes.

Slaughterings of goats and kids increased by 1.7% to 53 800 head. During the same period the yield of goat meat declined by 12.8% to 573 tonnes.

Furthermore 564 horses, foals and other equids (-8.7%) were slaughtered in 2019, which resulted in 120 tonnes (-9.9%) of horse meat.

Methodological notes

The annual slaughter statistics provide information on the total number of farm animals of Austrian and non-Austrian origin slaughtered in Austria, and about overall meat production resulting therefrom. Monthly reports from the governmental meat inspection authorities on all examined and evaluated slaughterings provide the basis for the statistics. With regard to pigs, sheep and goats, the present results also include non-examined slaughterings. It should be noted that pigs, sheep and goats are exempt from the inspection obligation if the carcasses are consumed exclusively by the livestock owner, family members living in the household or company employees. The number of non-examined pig slaughterings is determined in the course of the livestock survey in December of the reference year. The data for sheep and goats are based entirely on a model that simulates the anticipated offspring, including the estimates of relevant field experts.

Meat production was calculated for each animal species or usage group by multiplying the number of slaughtered animals by the corresponding average carcass weight. The latter figures were based on data provided by “Agrarmarkt Austria” that for sheep and goats were supplemented by experts’ estimates in the context of the model mentioned above.

Poultry slaughterings 2020

Slaughterhouses subject to reporting requirements slaughtered 98.0 million chickens in 2020, by 8.0% more than in 2019. The volume of chicken meat in processing form reached 125 000 tonnes, 8.2% more than in the previous year. Around 44.6% of the total slaughter volume (2019: 44.2%) allotted to the processing form "meat, parts".

Numbers on turkeys, geese, ducks and guinea fowls will not be published for data protection reasons.

Methodological notes

In accordance with Federal Law Gazette II No. 356/2003 (in the version currently in force; available in German only) all slaughterhouses with at least 5 000 poultry slaughterings per year are subject to this survey.