Agriculture - 1 quarter 2014

Meat production and milk collection declined only slightly, milk prices increased

In Q1 2014 the meat production amounted to 107 714 tonnes, i.e. by 0.9% less than in Q1 2013. Production of all main categories of meat changed only slightly, y-o-y (+ 0.1% for beef, −1.4% for pigmeat, and −0.3% for poultrymeat). Milk collection decreased by 0.3% to 579 425 thousand litres; its agricultural producer prices grew by 21.8% to CZK 9.70 per litre.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q1 2014 the number of slaughtered cattle was 54 755 heads; it decreased by 0.8%, year-on-year. The decline was recorded in all categories (by 10.7% for young cattle, by 7.6% for cows, by 6.1% for heifers, and by 0.6% for calves) except for bulls whose number increased by 9.0%. The total beef and veal production amounted to 16 180 tonnes. It was almost stable, y-o-y, (+0.1%), and it went down by 3.9% compared to Q4 2013.
The number of slaughtered pigs decreased to 639 495 heads; i.e. by 1.7%, y-o-y. The total pigmeat production declined to 57 319 tonnes, y-o-y (by 1.4%). It was by 3.2% lower than in Q4 2013 (during Q4 the highest proportion of yearly meat production usually occurs).
Poultrymeat production reached 34 172 tonnes and was only by 0.3% lower than in Q1 2013.

Cattle, pig and poultry numbers
According to the results of the last survey in cattle as at 31 December 2013, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic was 1 332.1 thousand heads (+0.8%), of which 552.9 thous. heads were cows (+1,9%). A slight growth was recorded in all crucial categories: by 2.2% for dairy cows, by 1.2% for beef cows, by 1.7% for bulls for fattening, and by 3.9% for mated heifers.
The number of pigs as at 31 December 2013 increased to 1 547.7 thous. heads (+0.9%). Although there was a decline in the category of pigs for fattening by 3.0%, y-o-y, number of pigs for breeding increased by 6.3 %; out of them number of sows went up by 4.2% (to 102.4 thous. heads) and number of covered gilts rose by 11.1%.
The number of poultry grew by 2.0%, y-o-y (to 20 816.4 thous. heads). However, number of laying hens decreased by 3.9% (to 4 119.3 thous. heads).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter
In Q1 2014 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went down in all categories, y-o-y: mainly for calves (by 22.9%) and cows (by 6.7%) while less distinct declines were noted for bulls (by 3.2%) and heifers (only by 0.8%). The average price of bulls for slaughter was CZK 45.43 per kg of live weight or CZK 82.68 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter slightly increased (by 3.1%). Pigs for slaughter were sold on average for CZK 33.21 per kg of live weight or CZK 42.68 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter decreased by 4.7%. The average price of chicken for slaughter in the first-quality class was CZK 24.11 per kg of live weight.

External trade in live animals and meat
According to preliminary results, external trade ¹⁾ in live animals in the period from December 2013 to February 2014 reached a positive balance in all livestock types: 17 039 tonnes for cattle, 718 tonnes for pigs, and 8 671 tonnes for poultry.
Export of live cattle distinctly exceeded their import. Although exports went up almost twofold, y-o-y, in total only 331 tonnes were imported while 17 370 tonnes (+10.5 %) were exported. Exports consisted of 26.8 thous. heads of cattle intended for further rearing and 20.1 thous. heads of cattle for slaughter. The main trade partners were Austria (exports of cattle for slaughter) and Germany (exports of both cattle for slaughter and – mainly calves – for further rearing).
Imports of live pigs amounted to 4 970 tonnes (−12.3%) and their exports to 5 689 tonnes (−5.5%). Imports of piglets plummeted to 81.0 tonnes (−31.6%). Imports of pigs for slaughter rose to 23.1 tonnes (+14.5%) while their exports dropped to 46.8 tonnes (−8.1%). Live pigs were imported mainly from Germany (both pigs for slaughter and piglets) and Denmark (piglets). Exports went predominantly to Slovakia and Hungary.
Imports of live poultry plummeted to one half of the Q1 2012 value and reached only 726 tonnes (−43.4%); the decrease was recorded in imports of chicken for slaughter, one-day chicks and especially turkey poults. Exports of live poultry were almost stable (9 396 tonnes, +0.6%).The most important trade partner was Germany (imports of day old poultry). Exports went mainly to Poland (turkeys and chicken for slaughter, day old ducklings) and to Slovakia (one-day chicks).
External trade in meat showed a negative balance for all types: −3 394 tonnes for beef, −45 763 tonnes for pigmeat, and −14 493 tonnes for poultrymeat.
Imports of beef increased to 5 147 tonnes (+7.4%), y-o-y, while its exports declined to 1 753 tonnes (−17.1%). The trade went in both directions with Poland; imports came also from Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland, while exports went to Slovakia.
In total 55 640 tonnes of pigmeat (+2.3%) were imported mostly from Germany; and 9 877 tonnes (−0.1%) were exported, mainly to Slovakia.
Imports of poultrymeat decreased to 22 168 tonnes (−5.5%), y-o-y, while its exports rose to 7 674 tonnes (+13.8%). Imports came from Poland, Brazil, Hungary and Germany, exports went to Slovakia.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q1 2014, dairies collected 579 425 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers. It was only by 0.3% less than in Q1 2013.
Agricultural producer prices of milk rose by 21.8%, y-o-y. The average price of Q-quality milk was CZK 9.70 per litre.

External trade in milk and milk products
In external trade ¹⁾ in milk and milk products, exports exceeded imports by 163 523 tonnes. Compared to Q1 2013 both imports and exports went slightly up: imports to 62 732 tonnes (+1.9%) and exports to 226 255 tonnes (+3.3%). Imports of acidified milk products increased (+6.9%), went slightly down for butter (−2.1%) and for cheese and curd (−2.5%) and dropped distinctly for milk (−13.7%). On the contrary, exports of milk rose (+6.1%) while exports of acidified milk products plummeted by 22.8%. Exports of cheese and curd slightly declined (−3.8%) and exports of butter were almost the same (+0.5%) as in Q1 2013.
______________________________________

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 8 million a year for both flows are not under reporting duty for Intrastat.


Notes:
Published data are final, except external trade data.
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@czso.cz
Source: Livestock Slaughtering (Czech Statistical Office), Agricultural Producer Price Indices (Czech Statistical Office), External Trade Database (Czech Statistical Office), data on milk collection and poultry purchase (Ministry of Agriculture)
End of data collection: 10 April 2014
End of data processing: 28 April 2014
Following tables: /csu/czso/livestock-slaughtering-july-2014-32is9yfum8
/csu/czso/cattle-breeding-figures-2nd-half-of-2013-7oy3sg4glx
/csu/czso/pig-breeding-figures-2nd-half-of-2013-6gpzkyl8ft
/csu/czso/poultry-breeding-figures-2013-l59wzmablr
/csu/czso/indexy-cen-zemedelskych-vyrobcu-prumyslovych-vyrobcu-a-indexy-spotrebitelskych-cen-potravinarskeho-zbozi-cervenec-2014-jeeql1vj7z , in Czech
Date of the next News Release publication: 30 July 2014

This press release was not edited for language.

Published: 30.04.2014
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.