Germany: Cattle population is declining slightly, while sheep numbers are increasing
That was 0.9% or 100,600 cattle and 1.7% or 62,400 dairy cows fewer than in May 2023. Compared to November 2022, the cattle population fell by 1.5% (-160,800 animals) and by 14.6% compared to 2013. (-1.8 million animals). The dairy cow population fell by 2.5% within a year (-96,900 animals) and by 13% (-554,800 animals) in a ten-year comparison.
The long-term downward trend in keeping dairy cows continued. Compared to May 2023, the number of positions fell by 2.1% (-1,100 positions) to 50,600; compared to November 2022, it fell by 4.4% (-2,300 positions). Since 2013, the number of dairy cow farms has fallen by 36.4% (-29,000 farms).
Sheep numbers are increasing
As of November 3, 2023, 1.6 million sheep were kept in Germany. That was 2.8% or 42,200 animals more than a year earlier (November 3, 2022). In a two-year comparison, the population increased by 3.4% or 51,000 animals; in a ten-year comparison it fell by 0.7% or 10,900 animals.
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