Agriculture - 3rd quarter of 2013

Meat production at the last year level, agricultural producer prices increased

In Q3 2013 the total meat production amounted to 112 995 tonnes (+0.4%, year-on-year), of which 15 815 tonnes were beef (+1.4%), 57 869 tonnes were pigmeat (−0.5%), and 39 249 tonnes were poultrymeat (+1.4%). Dairies collected 584 019 thousand litres of milk (−2.0%). Agricultural producer prices for cattle for slaughter declined by 3.0%, y-o-y, however, these prices grew by 5.6% for pigs, by 7.6% for poultry, and by 15.0% for milk.

Slaughtering and meat production
In Q3 2013 the number of slaughtered cattle was 54 thousand heads; i.e. only by 0.6% less, year-on-year. In the most important category – bulls – an increment by 9.2% was recorded while in other main categories – cows and heifers – there was a decrease by 4.5% and by 16.4%, respectively. The drop in number of slaughtered heifers reflected their increased export. The total beef and veal production reached 15 815 tonnes; i.e. by 1.4% more, y-o-y.
The number of slaughtered pigs decreased by 0.2% and the total pigmeat production by 0.5%, y-o-y. In total 662 thous. heads of pigs were slaughtered and 57 869 tonnes of pigmeat were produced.
The total poultrymeat production grew by 1.4%, y-o-y, to 39 249 tonnes.

Results of cattle and pig breeding
At the beginning of Q3 2013 the number of cattle reached 1 375 thous. heads (+1.7%, y-o-y), of which 555 thous. heads were cows (+0.6%). Year-on-year changes in main categories (+0.3% for dairy cows, +3.8% for heifers for breeding, and +10.6% for bulls for fattening) indicate stability in cattle rearing.
The number of pigs as at 1 August 2013 increased by 18.9 thous. heads, y-o-y (+1.2%) to 1 593 thous. heads. In comparison with the previous survey at the end of 2012, number of pigs and sows rose by 3.9% and 3.6%, respectively. Number of sows in 2013 did not fall under the level of 100 thousand heads. No year-on-year decrease was recorded in other main categories as well (+0.3% for pigs for fattening, and +3.6% for gilts).

Agricultural producer prices of cattle, pigs and chicken for slaughter
In Q3 2013 agricultural producer prices of cattle for slaughter went up, y-o-y, by 1.6% for heifers and by 0.3% for cows; they declined by 5.3% for bulls and by 9.2% for calves. The average price of bulls for slaughter was CZK 44.74 per kg of live weight or CZK 81.43 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of pigs for slaughter grew by 5.6%, y-o-y. The producers sold pigs for slaughter on average for CZK 34.45 per kg of live weight or CZK 44.27 per kg of carcass weight.
Agricultural producer prices of chicken for slaughter rose y-o-y (by 7.6%). Their average price for the first-quality class was CZK 24.66 per kg of live weight.

External trade in live animals and meat
According to preliminary results of external trade ¹⁾ in live animals in the period from June to August 2013 there was a surplus in the balance for all three species: 13 903 tonnes for cattle, 623 tonnes for pigs, and 9 108 tonnes for poultry.
Imports of live cattle were negligible in comparison with their exports. Only 54 tonnes of live animals were imported (−52.4%) and 13 957 tonnes exported (−16.6%); i.e. there was a positive balance of 18 thous. heads of cattle for slaughter and 21 thous. heads of animals intended for further rearing. The main partners for live cattle exports were Austria (cattle for slaughter), Germany (both cattle for slaughter and for further rearing), and Belgium (cattle for further rearing).
Imports of live pigs amounted to 4 840 tonnes (−31.3%) and their exports to 5 463 tonnes (−6.5%). A positive balance was influenced by declined imports of piglets (by 36.7%, y-o-y, to 86 thous. heads). Exports of pigs for slaughter retained the level of Q3 2012 (48 thous. heads; +0.3%). Live pigs were imported mainly from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands; piglets and as for Germany also pigs for slaughter were the prevailing categories. Exports went mainly to Hungary, Slovakia, and Germany; pigs for slaughter prevailed, together with piglets in case of Slovakia.
Both imports and exports of live poultry increased compared to Q3 2012; their imports amounted to 1 701 tonnes (+39.4%) and exports to 10 810 tonnes (+12.0%). Live poultry was imported mainly from Slovakia (both one-day chicks and chicken for fattening), and to Hungary and Germany (day old poultry); their exports went to Slovakia (one-day chicks and chicken for slaughter), to Poland (one-day chicks, chicken for fattening, turkeys, and hens), to Germany (turkeys for slaughter) and to Romania (one-day chicks).

External trade ¹⁾ in meat was negatively balanced in all meat categories: ­3 278 tonnes of beef, ­47 706 tonnes of pigmeat and ­14 568 tonnes of poultrymeat.
Both imports and exports of beef slightly increased: imports to 5 261 tonnes (+6.4%) and exports to 1 983 tonnes (+5.6%), y-o-y. The trade in beef went in both directions with Poland, Germany and the Netherlands; imports from Poland and exports to Slovakia prevailed.
Imports of pigmeat reached 58 025 tonnes (−3.3%), mostly from Germany, while 10 318 tonnes (­5.5%) were exported, mainly to Slovakia.
Both imports and exports of poultrymeat decreased year-on-year: its imports amounted to 21 306 tonnes (−12.3%) and exports to 6 738 tonnes (−8.0%). Imports came from Poland and Brazil while exports went mainly to Slovakia and the Netherlands.

Milk collection and agricultural producer prices of milk
In Q3 2013, dairies collected 584 019 thousand litres of milk from domestic producers; it was by 2.0% less than in the same period of the previous year.
Agricultural producer prices of milk went up by 15.0%, y-o-y. The producers sold Q-quality milk on average for CZK 8.39 per litre.

External trade in milk and milk products
In external trade ¹⁾ in milk and milk products exports exceeded imports by 165 362 tonnes. Compared to the same period of the previous year, imports went down (to 61 581 tonnes; −8.6%) as well as exports (to 226 942 tonnes; −7.9%). Imports increased, y-o-y, in butter (+19.4%); they declined in cheese and curd (−1.3%), in yoghurts and acidified milk products (−7.6%), and in milk and cream (−21.7%). Exports went up in cheese and curd (+21.6%), and dropped in butter (−2.0%), yoghurts and acidified milk products (−7.9%), and in milk and cream (−8.4%). The main partners in trade in milk and milk products were Germany and Slovakia (both directions) and Poland (imports).
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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.
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, 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 October 2013
End of data processing: 29 O ctober 2013
Following tables: http://www.czso.cz/csu/2013edicniplan.nsf/engp/2110-1 3
/csu/czso/cattle-breeding-figures-2nd-half-of-2013-7oy3sg4glx
/csu/czso/pig-breeding-figures-2nd-half-of-2013-6gpzkyl8ft
/csu/czso/indexy-cen-zemedelskych-vyrobcu-2013-xyvpxbrgw8
Date of the next News Release publication: 30 January 2014

This press release was not edited for language.

Published: 31.10.2013
The data are valid as of the release date of the publication.