Beef production in the EU decreased by 4% compared to last year

This was largely driven by a decline in production in Italy, followed by Spain, Ireland and France . At the same time, other countries, including the Netherlands and Germany, saw an increase in production, with the Netherlands seeing a surge in cow slaughter. This follows a broader trend of declining cattle numbers across the continent. Census data from 1 December 2022 showed a decline in almost all categories of cattle in the EU , especially cattle aged 1-2 years. The number of breeding cows was also declining, especially in France and Poland.

Despite lower production levels, EU cattle prices have declined slightly since the beginning of the year (but have generally remained historically stable ) . Industry reports point to sluggish demand for beef on the continent due to high inflation and cautious consumer spending.