In Q1 2016 the meat production amounted to 109 577 tonnes (+0.6%, year-on-year); it consisted of 17 933 tonnes of beef (+8.1%), 54 146 tonnes of pigmeat (−6.2%), and 37 427 tonnes of poultrymeat (+8.3%). Prices of cattle for slaughter almost did not change (+0.4%) while they declined for pigs (−7.4%) and chicken for slaughter (−2.0%). Milk collection rose to 624 792 thousand litres (+4.1%, y-o-y); its price plummeted by 15.9% and it was sold for 7.30 CZK per litre on average.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q1 2016 the number of slaughtered cattle accounted for 60.4 thous. heads (+7.1%, y-o-y), of which 24.4 thous. bulls (+4.9%), 27.6 thous. cows (+11.4%) and 5.9 thous. heifers (+2.8%). Slaughtering in not so important categories – young cattle and calves – dropped while their exports rose at the same time. The total beef and veal production amounted to 17 933 tonnes (+8.1%).
The long-term decreasing trend in the number of slaughtered pigs continued (581.8 thous. heads; −7.6%, y-o-y). The pigmeat production went down by 6.2% to 54 146 tonnes due to increased average weight of slaughtered animals.
The poultrymeat production reached 37 427 tonnes and was by 8.3% higher than that in Q1 2015.

Cattle, pig and poultry numbers
According to the results of the last survey as at 31 December 2015, the number of cattle in the Czech Republic was 1 366.3 thousand heads (−0.5%, y-o-y), of which 566.3 thous. heads were cows (0.0%). The number of dairy cows decreased by 0.9% while the number of beef cows increased by 1.8%. A decline was recorded for young cattle less than 1 year old (to 403.5 thous. heads; −2.2%) as well as for bulls for fattening (to 101.6 thous. heads; −4.9%) and the number of replacement heifers went slightly up (to 200.1 thous. heads; +1.7%).
The number of pigs as at the same date decreased to 1 555.4 thous. heads (−3.2%), of which the number of sows to 95.8 thous. heads (−2.3%). A similar decline was recorded also for pigs for fattening (to 619.4 thous. heads; −3.3%).
The number of poultry stayed approximately at the same level (21 304.5 thous. heads; +0.8%) despite the fact that the number of laying hens significantly decreased at the turn of 2015 and 2016 (3 845.9 thous. heads; −10.1%).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter
In Q1 2016 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter increased, y-o-y, for bulls (+0.3%), cows (+0.7%), and calves (+17.9%); they declined for heifers (−0.8%). The average price of bulls for slaughter was 46.91 CZK per kg of live weight or 85.38 CZK per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter went down by 7.4%. Producers sold pigs for slaughter for the average price of 26.45 CZK per kg of live weight or of 34.39 CZK per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter of the first quality class slightly decreased (−2.0%). Their average price was 23.52 CZK per kg of live weight.

External trade in live animals and meat
According to preliminary results, external trade¹⁾ in live animals in weight units in the period from December 2015 to February 2016 reached a positive balance (19 619 tonnes for cattle, 6 273 tonnes for pigs, and 8 572 tonnes for poultry).
Imports of live cattle distinctly rose (to 5.4 thous. heads); despite this fact they remained almost ten times lower than exports (60.0 thous. heads). The year-on-year comparison confirmed a new feature in live cattle imports which began during 2015: increase in imports of young cattle concurrently with increase in their exports. Exports included 39.3 thous. heads (+30.1%, y-o-y) of animals for further rearing and 20.6 thous. heads (+9.3%) for slaughter; i.e. 13 252 tonnes of animals for slaughter – the amount corresponding to monthly meat production in the Czech Republic. Imports of live cattle came mainly from France, Belgium, Austria and Slovakia; their exports went above all to Austria, Turkey and Germany.
As for imports of live pigs, the category up to 50 kg prevailed: in total 59.9 thous heads (−22.0%, y-o-y) weighing on average 26.8 kg were imported. On the contrary, pigs over 50 kg dominated in exports. In total 66.5 thous. pigs for slaughter were exported (−15.9%); their average weight was 119.3 kg. Live pigs were imported mostly from Germany and Denmark and exported to Slovakia, Germany and Hungary.
External trade¹⁾ with live poultry reached a positive balance both in day-old juveniles and poultry for slaughter. During the reference period, in total 2.9 million heads of day-old chicks (−20.3, y-o-y) were imported mainly from Germany and 22.9 million heads (−9.0%) were exported mostly to Slovakia. Exports of chicks for slaughter accounted for 4 336 tonnes (+8.1%) and went to Germany and Slovakia. Imports were approximately ten times lower than exports.
External trade¹⁾ in meat showed a negative balance for all types: −3 573 tonnes for beef, −55 068 tonnes for pigmeat, and −20 653 tonnes for poultrymeat. The deficit deepened, y-o-y, for pigmeat and poutrymeat.
Imports of beef increased minutely to 5 991 tonnes (+1.0%, y-o-y) and its exports to 2 418 tonnes (+14.3%). Imports came mainly from Poland, the Netherlands and Austria; boneless meat prevailed. Exports went to Slovakia and also to the Netherlands, equally in quarters and as boneless meat.
In total 62 927 tonnes of pigmeat (+3.4%, y-o-y), of which one half in boneless cuts, were imported. Only 7 859 tonnes (−18.1%) were exported, mostly in boneless cuts but also in half-carcasses. Imported meat came mainly from Germany, Spain and Poland; exports led mostly to Slovakia.
Imports of poultrymeat grew to 28 933 tonnes (+5.5%, y-o-y) and its exports to 8 280 tonnes (+19.7%). Poultrymeat was imported mainly from Poland and less frequently from Hungary, imports from Brazil distinctly decreased; exports went to Slovakia.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q1 2016 dairies collected 624 792 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers, i.e. by 4.1% more than in Q1 2015.
Agricultural producer prices of milk in Q1 2016 were by 15.9% lower than in Q1 2015. Producers sold milk of Q quality class for the average price of 7.30 CZK per litre; i.e. the same as in Q4 2015.

External trade in milk and milk products
In external trade¹⁾ in milk and milk products, exports distinctly surpassed imports; the surplus grew, year-on-year, to 183 640 tonnes. Imports stayed at the same level (66 479 tonnes; (−0.1%) while exports went slightly up to 250 119 tonnes (+1.3%). Imports decreased for acidified milk products (−3.2%) and grew for milk and cream (+4.9%), cheese and curd (+8.1) and butter (+15.4%). Exports of all abovementioned commodities went up: by 0.4% in milk and cream, by 7.2% in cheese and curd, by 12.0% in acidified milk products, and even by 38.8% in butter. Germany and Slovakia were the most important trade partners for both directions 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 8 million a year for both flows are not under reporting duty for Intrastat.

Notes:
Published data are final, except external trade data.
Responsible head at the CZSO: Jiří Hrbek, phone 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@czso.cz
Contact person: Jiří Hrbek, phone 27405 2331, e-mail: jiri.hrbek@czso.cz
Source: Livestock Slaughtering (Czech Statistical Office), Cattle Breeding Figures (Czech Statistical Office), Pig Breeding Figures (Czech Statistical Office), Poultry Breeding Figures (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: 8 April 2016
End of data processing: 27 April 2016
Following tables: https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/livestock-slaughtering-february-2016 
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/cattle-breeding-figures-2-half-2015
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/pig-breeding-figures-as-at-31122015
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/poultry-breeding-figures-2015
https://www.czso.cz/csu/czso/agricultural-producer-price-indices-march-2016
Date of the next News Release publication: 1 August 2016

This press release was not edited for language.