August 13, 2024

 

Germany's meat output rose by 1.3% in H1 2024

 

 

Meat production in Germany has increased by 1.3% in the first half of 2024, reaching 3.4 million tonnes when compared to the corresponding 2023 period, according to the country's Federal Statistical Office.

 

In total, commercial slaughterhouses in Germany slaughtered 24 million pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, as well as 344 million chickens, turkeys and ducks in the first six months of this year, figures show.

 

Following a gradual decline in pork production, a slight increase was recorded which is the first increase in the first half of the year since 2016. A total of 21.9 million pigs were slaughtered, representing a rise of 0.4%.

 

German pork production reached 2.1 million tonnes in the first half of the year which is 1.1%, or 22,4000 tonnes, above last year's total. For years, pork production has accounted for the largest share of slaughtering in Germany.

 

In the first half of 2024, 62% of the meat produced was pork, followed by poultry with a share of 23% and beef at 14.6%. Sheep, goat, and horse meat accounted for only 0.4% of Germany's total meat production.

 

In total, 1.5 million cattle have been slaughtered, which represents an increase of 1.3%, or 18,300 cattle. The amount of beef produced rose by 2.5% to 496,600 tonnes. The average slaughter weight was 337kg, 4kg more than in 2023.

 

While the number of poultry slaughtered in Germany hardly increased in the first half of 2024, the amount of meat produced increased by 1.3% to 780,700 tonnes, which represents an increase of 9,700 tonnes on the first half of 2023.

- Agriland