Agriculture - 3rd quarter of 2020

Meat production up, prices of animals for slaughter down

30.10.2020
Code: 270149-20
 

In Q3 2020 the meat production amounted to 114 103 tonnes, i.e. by 1.6% more, year‑on‑year. It consisted of 17 525 tonnes of beef (+0.6%), 52 762 tonnes of pigmeat (+2.3%), and 43 777 tonnes of poultrymeat (+1.2%). Prices of cattle for slaughter declined by 4,9%, y-o-y, and prices of pigs for slaughter plummeted by 13.9%. Dairies and collection centres purchased 775 736 thous. litres (+3.9%) of milk from domestic producers on average for 8.24 CZK per litre (−4.4%).

Slaughtering and meat production
The number of slaughtered cattle in Q3 2020 accounted for 56.9 thous. head (−1.5%, y-o-y), of which 23.6 thous. were bulls (+0.9%), 25.4 thous. were cows (−3.9%), and 5.9 thous. were heifers (+0.9%). Negligibly increased beef production (17 525 tonnes; +0.6%) in combination with lower number of slaughtered animals showed higher average slaughter weight (576.6 kg per head; +2.1%), which was caused by prolonged fattening period (see cattle numbers below).

The number of slaughtered pigs in Q3 2020 went down to 568.2 thous. head (−1.1%, y-o-y). The pigmeat production amounted to 52 762 tonnes (+2.3%) owing to increased average slaughter weight of fattening pigs (118.4 kg per head; +3.4%) as a ceasing result of restricted slaughtering in April and May.

According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, the amount of poultry slaughtered in Q3 2020 accounted for 67 382 tonnes, which represents 43 777 tonnes of poultrymeat produced (+1.2%, y-o-y).

Cattle and pig numbers
The number of cattle in the Czech Republic at the beginning of Q3 2020 were 1 406.9 thous. head, i.e. by 1.1% less, y-o-y. A slight y-o-y decrease (−1.9%) was recorded for cows. The number of fattening bulls aged 1 to 2 years declined as well (−5.9%). The numbers in categories intended to immediate slaughter (i.e. bulls and not mated heifers aged over 2 years and heifers for slaughter) were higher, y-o-y (+22.4% in total) due to reduced activity of slaughterhouses as well as exports of animals for slaughter during spring.

According to the results of the Pig Production Survey, the number of pigs amounted to 1 521.1 thous. head (+0.7%, y-o-y). The number of sows went down (−0.9%) but the number of mated gilts rose by 11.2%. The number of fattening pigs immediately before slaughter, i.e. in the category of pigs having a live weight of 110 kg and over, went up as well (+18.9%)

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter
Year-on-year decreases were observed in Q3 2020 in all animal products surveyed.

Agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went down by 4.9%, y-o-y, of which among important categories those of cows for slaughter (−7.4%) and heifers for slaughter (−6.8%) the most. Prices of bulls for slaughter decreased by 1.6%. Producers sold bulls for slaughter on average for 45.07 CZK per kg of live weight or 82.02 CZK per kg of carcass weight.

Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter in Q3 2020 dropped by 13.9% in comparison with Q3 2019 and reached on average 29.46 CZK per kg of live weight or 38.30 CZK per kg of carcass weight. In comparison with Q2 2020, the average price in carcass weight went down by 5.79 CZK per kg of carcass weight.

Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter in Q3 2020 recorded a slight y-o-y decrease (−1.0%). Producers sold chicken for slaughter of the first quality class on average for 22.84 CZK per kg of live weight.

Cross border movements1) – live animals and meat
According to preliminary results of cross border movements statistics, less live cattle and live poultry were traded, y-o-y, in the period from June to August 2020 because of declined exports. On the contrary, the turnover of trade in live pigs was higher due to increased imports.

In total 47.5 thous. head of live cattle (−9.1%) were exported, of which 15.0 thous. head (−1.7%) were for slaughter and 32.6 thous. head (−12.2%) were for further rearing, including animals for breeding. Imports of animals for slaughter continued to grow (1.9 thous. head; +21.1%). Live cattle were imported mainly from Slovakia and exported to Austria and Germany; exports outside the EU went down by more than one half because a significant part of cattle for further rearing formerly exported to Turkey was directed to Bulgaria.

Cross border movements of live pigs recorded a lower surplus, y-o-y, which was caused by increased imports (25.4 thous. head; +4.5%) together with almost unchanged exports (101.3 thous. head; −0.8%). In comparison with Q3 2019, during which no pigs for slaughter were imported, their imports recovered to 1.0 thous. head. Their exports increased as well (to 61.0 thous. head; +12.4%), while exports of young pigs having an average weight of 27.4 kg declined (to 38.9 thous. head; −16.8%). Live pigs came from Germany, Slovakia, and Denmark; they were exported mostly to Slovakia, Hungary, and Germany.

According to the statistics of cross border movements, the commodity live poultry showed a y-o‑y plummet in exports of chicken and hens for slaughter: by 24.1% to 4 608 tonnes of live weight. The surplus of the trade in day-old juveniles stayed at the same level. In total 22.9 million chicks and 2.2 million ducklings were exported and 1.4 million chicks, 97 thous. ducklings (3 times more, y-o-y), and 75 thous. turkey poults (one half, y-o-y) were imported. Main partners in imports of live poultry were Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany; exports were directed to Slovakia, Poland, Romania, and Germany.

The statistics of cross border movements of the commodity meat improved for beef (to −6 015 tonnes), negligibly deepened in pigmeat (−60 345 tonnes), and a distinct y-o-y deficit was recorded for poultrymeat (−23 158 tonnes).

Imports of beef amounted to 9 475 tonnes (−11.8%) and its exports went up to 3 460 tonnes (+10.2%). Imported beef came above mostly from the Netherlands, Poland, and Germany. Exports went above all to Slovakia and Poland.

Imports of pigmeat slightly grew to 68 853 tonnes (+2.3%) as well as its exports (8 508 tonnes; +17.5%); i.e. the deficit of movements of goods negligibly increased, y-o-y. Pigmeat was imported traditionally from Germany, Spain, Poland, and Belgium; most of it was exported to Slovakia.

Cross border movements of poultrymeat, similarly to the situation in Q2 2020, recorded different trends. Increased imports (26 953 tonnes; +7.2%) and lower exports (3 794 tonnes; −12.5%) resulted in y-o-y deepened deficit of the trade in poultrymeat. More than half of imported poultrymeat came from Poland; imports from Hungary slightly rose. Exports were directed to Slovakia, Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
According to the statistical survey of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, in total 775 736 thousand litres of milk (+3.9%) were collected from domestic producers in Q3 2020, of which 653 736 thousand litres (+6.4%) were purchased by dairies from producers and collection centres for processing.

Agricultural producer prices of milk slightly declined, y-o-y (−4.4%). The average price of milk of Q quality class was 8.24 CZK per litre, i.e. also by 0.35 CZK per litre less than in Q2 2020.

Cross border movements1) – milk and milk products
In total 72.6 thous. tonnes (+17.7%) of milk and milk products were imported and 298.4 thous. tonnes (+4.6%) were exported during the reference period. Considerable surplus in cross border movements of milk and milk products grew again, y-o-y, mainly due to increased exports of milk and cream (+10 110 tonnes), and despite the fact that their imports went up as well (+6 402 tonnes). The deficit of the trade in cheese and curd went slightly down, y-o-y, to −11 391 tonnes and the surplus of the trade in acidified milk products declined as well (+4 740 tonnes). The trade in whey rose: by 1 492 tonnes directed to Czechia and by 1 757 from Czechia. Milk and milk products were imported the most from Germany, Poland, and Slovakia. Exports went above all to Germany, Slovakia and Italy.

________________________
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 statistics of cross border movements of goods.

Responsible head: Radek Matějka, Director of Agricultural and Forestry, Industrial, Construction and Energy Statistics Department, phone (+420) 736 168 543, e‑mail radek.matejka@czso.cz
Contact person: Renata Vodičková, Head of Agricultural and Forestry Statistics Unit, phone (+420) 703 824 173, e-mail renata.vodickova@czso.cz
Data source: Statistical survey of the CZSO on livestock slaughtering (Zem 1-12), on cattle production (Zem 1-02), and on pig production (Zem 2-02)
Public Database of the CZSO: Prices of Agriculture (table Agricultural Producer Price Indices and table Average Agricultural Price)
Database of the CZSO - Cross Border Movements of Goods
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: 9 October 2020
End of data processing: 27 October 2020
Related outcomes:
Livestock Slaughtering: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-slaughtering-august-2020; publication date of the detailed September figures: 4 November 2020
Cattle production: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/cattle-production-1st-half-of-2020
Pig production: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/pig-production-1st-half-of-2020

Date of the next News Release publication: 1 February 2021

Text was not edited for language.

  •      azem103020.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
Archive:
Show all Hide

Published: 30.10.2020
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