Agriculture - 2nd quarter of 2019

Meat production up, prices of pigs for slaughter grew

30.07.2019
Code: 270149-19
 

In Q2 2019 the meat production amounted to 114 015 tonnes (+2.2%, year-on-year); it consisted of 17 788 tonnes of beef (+4.0%), 53 607 tonnes of pigmeat (+1.0%), and 42 534 tonnes of poultrymeat (+2.8%). After a year-long drop, prices of pigs for slaughter started to grow: by 13.6%, y-o-y, and by 4.76 CZK per kg of carcass weight compared to Q1 2019. Prices of cattle for slaughter declined on average by 3.2%, y-o-y, while they rose by 1.2% for chicken for slaughter. Milk collection from producers reached 768 352 thous. litres (+0.2%); its average price was by 8.92 CZK per litre.
 

Slaughtering and meat production

In Q2 2019 the number of slaughtered cattle accounted for 57.8 thous. head (+3.1%, y-o-y), of which 24.8 thous. were bulls (+9.1%), 24.7 thous. were cows (−2.6%), 6.2 thous. were heifers (+8.4%), and 1.4 thous. were calves (−7.6%). Increased number of slaughtered animals, y-o-y, and higher beef production (17 788 tonnes; +4.0%) were connected with lower exports of animals, especially bulls, intended for slaughter.

The number of slaughtered pigs in Q2 2019 slightly rose to 587.7 thous. head (+1.3%); the number of culled sows slaughtered declined by 11.3%, y-o-y. The pigmeat production amounted to 53 607 tonnes, i.e. by 1.0% more, y-o-y; and, in connection with growing prices of pigs for slaughter, by 6.2% more than in Q1 2019.

Poultrymeat production in Q2 2019 reached 42 534 tonnes; it was by 2.8% higher than in Q2 2018.
 

Cattle, pig, and poultry numbers

According to results of the Livestock Survey as at 1 April, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic was 1 418.1 thous. head (+0.2%). Slight declines were recorded for fattened bulls (−2.3%) and mated heifers (−1.7%) while the number of animals up to 1 year slightly rose (+3.1%). These fluctuations within the herd turnover are compensated by external trade (decreased exports) and, therefore, the total cattle population remains stable during several past years.

The number of pigs went down, y-o-y, to 1 544.1 thous. head (−0.8%), mainly in categories pigs for fattening (−2.2%) and pigs for breeding (−2.6%). The number of piglets up to 20 kg increased by 9.3%; however, the number of pigs up to 50 kg distinctly declined (−10.4%) in connection with lowered import of pigs weighing 25-30 kg. Low number of pigs for fattening was not reflected in the meat production due to declined exports of pigs for slaughter.

The number of poultry as at 1 April was lower, y-o-y, by 2.5% and accounted for 22 979.4 thous. head. The number of hens dropped by 5.1% and the number of chicks for fattening went up by 2.9%.
 

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter

Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter in Q2 2019 went slightly down for all categories: by 3.5% for bulls, by 2.4% for cows, by 3.0% for heifers, and by 7.2% for calves. The average price of bulls for slaughter was 46.31 CZK per kg of live weight or 84.29 CZK per kg of carcass weight.

Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter in Q2 2019 started to grow. The farmers sold pigs for slaughter on average for 30.48 CZK per kg of live weight or 39.63 CZK per kg of carcass weight. The prices rose by 13.6% in Q2 2019 compared to very low ones in Q2 2018. In comparison with Q1 2019, the average price in carcass weight was higher by 4.76 CZK per kg or by 426 kg per one pig for slaughter.

Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter slightly increased, y-o-y (+1.2%). Producers sold chicken for slaughter of the first quality class on average for 23.29 CZK per kg of live weight.
 

External trade in live animals and meat

According to preliminary results, the turnover of external trade1) in live animals in the period from March to May 2019 decreased, y-o-y, for all three species, due to declines on both sides of the trade.

Exports of live cattle (38.6 thous. head) significantly exceeded its imports (0.6 thous. head) despite the fact that they were by 18.4% lower, y-o-y. In total 26.3 thous. head of cattle for further rearing (−13.1%) and 12.3 thous. head of animals for slaughter (−27.9%) were exported in the considered period; their total live weight was 7 732 tonnes. Countries that participated in the trade with live cattle the most were Austria (mainly cattle for slaughter), Turkey (animals for further rearing) and, newly, also Kazakhstan (cattle for breeding).

External trade in live pigs recorded increased surplus of their trade balance expressed in animal numbers, y-o-y. Only 24.3 thous. piglets, i.e. by 40.3% less than in Q2 2018, were imported. They came traditionally form Denmark and Germany. Exports of pigs for slaughter decreased to 72.9 thous. head (−10.5%) and 8 863 tonnes in live weight. Pigs for slaughter were exported to Slovakia and Germany; their exports to Poland went up while those to Hungary declined. Exports of piglets to Hungary distinctly rose.

The balance of external trade in live poultry was positive both for day-old juveniles and for poultry for slaughter. The trade in day-old chicks noticed increased imports (+2.1%) and lower exports (−2.1%); they resulted in increase of the total surplus to 24.2 million chicks. Day-old chicks of meat type were exported mainly to Slovakia; chicks of laying type to Romania and Poland. In the considered period, in total 5 134 tonnes (−3.0%) of chicks and cull hens for slaughter were exported mainly to Slovakia and Poland and 2 234 tonnes (−11.6%) of fattened turkeys went mostly to Germany.
 

The negative balance of external trade1) in meat got better, y-o-y, in all three types: to −5 798 tonnes for beef, to −60 207 tonnes for pigmeat, and to −21 601 tonnes for poultrymeat.

Imports of beef went down to 8 627 tonnes (−14.0%) and its exports rose to 2 828 tonnes (+3.7%). Imported meat came above all from the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and Poland; exports went mainly to Slovakia, the Netherlands and Poland.

The trade balance in pigmeat recorded lower deficit as well: its imports were lower (67 290 tonnes; −6.2%) and exports higher (7 083 tonnes; +6.4%). The largest amount of pigmeat was imported from Germany and Spain; imports from Poland were reduced (−5 423 tonnes). Exports were directed prevailingly to Slovakia.

External trade in poultrymeat recorded declines in both imports and exports. In total 26 313 tonnes (−7.7%) were imported and 4 712 tonnes (−22.2%) were exported in the considered period. Poultrymeat was imported mostly from Poland; however, Poland’s share on poultrymeat imports decreased (−3 167 tonnes) and was partly compensated by Hungary (+1 005 tonnes) and Ukraine (+1 093 tonnes). Exports went mainly to Slovakia, Germany and Austria.
 

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk

In Q2 2019, in total 768 352 thousand litres of milk (+0.2%) were collected from domestic producers, of which 648 578 thousand litres (−1.1%) were purchased by dairies from producers and collection centres.

Agricultural producer prices of milk were by 6.2% higher, y-o-y, in relation to low price level in Q2 2018. Producers sold milk of Q quality class for the average price of 8.92 CZK per litre, i.e. by 0.18 CZK per litre less than in Q1 2019.
 

External trade in milk and milk products

Considerable surplus in external trade1) in milk and milk products was reduced, y-o-y, to 198.3 thous. tonnes. In total 69.4 thous. tonnes (+6.0%) of milk and milk products were imported and 267.7 thous. tonnes (−9.9%) were exported in the considered period. Distinctly low exports of milk and cream (213.9 thous. tonnes; −12.2%) influenced this result the most. Increased imports of cheese and curd led to trade deficit for this commodity deepened to 12.0 thous. tonnes. On the contrary, the trade balance for acidified milk products was improved as its surplus rose to 6.5 thous. tonnes. Germany and Slovakia were the most important trade partners for both directions of trade in milk and milk products together with Poland for imports and Italy for exports.
 

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1) Intrastat does not include individual trading operations carried out by persons who are not registered for VAT as well as reporting units below the applicable thresholds of CZK 12 million a year for both flows are not under reporting duty for Intrastat.

 

Notes:

Published data are final, except external trade data.
Responsible head: Renata Vodičková, Head of Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit, phone (+420) 274 054 292, e-mail renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Contact person: Renata Vodičková, phone (+420) 274 054 292, e-mail renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Data source: Statistical survey of the CZSO on livestock slaughtering (Zem 1-12) and Livestock Survey (Zem1-01)
Public Database of the CZSO: Prices of Agriculture (table Agricultural Producer Price Indices and table Average Agricultural Price)
External Trade Database of the CZSO
Outcomes of statistical surveys of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic on milk collection (Mlék(MZe) 6-12, Odbyt(MZe)6-12) and on poultry purchase (Drůb (MZe) 4-12)
End of data collection: 10 July 2019
End of data processing: 25 July 2019
Related outcomes: Livestock Slaughtering https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-slaughtering-may-2019 ; publication date of the detailed June figures: 5 August 2019
Livestock Survey https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-survey-as-at-1-april-2019
Date of the next News Release publication: 31 October 2019
Text was not edited for language.

 

  •      azem073019.docx

  • Annexes:
  • Table 1 Meat production and milk collection
  • Chart 1 Beef – production and average agricultural producer price
  • Chart 2 Pigmeat – production and average agricultural producer price
  • Chart 3 Poultrymeat – production and average agricultural producer price
  • Chart 4 Milk – collection and average agricultural producer price
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Published: 30.07.2019
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.


Contact: Information Services Unit - Headquarters, tel.: +420 274 056 789, email: infoservis@czso.cz