Provisional data compiled by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSB) show that, compared to 2016, in 2017 output of meat grew by 4.6 % and output of milk by 1.4 %.

Most notable rise recorded in output of poultry

In 2017, in Latvia 91.2 thou. tonnes of meat were produced, which is 4.0 thou. tonnes or 4.6 % more than in 2016. The most significant increase was observed in the output of poultry (of 11.3 %) and pork (4.7 %). Production of beef and veal fell by 5.2 % and production of mutton and goat meat by 2.3 %.

Output of livestock products

	2016	2017*	Changes (2017, compared to 2016), %
Meat (slaughter weight), thou. t	87.2	91.2	4.6
beef and veal	19.5	18.5	-5.2
pork	36.4	38.1	4.7
mutton and goat	0.9	0.9	-2.3
poultry	30.2	33.6	11.3
other meat	0.2	0.1	-31.8
Milk (incl. goat milk), thou. t	986.2	1000.1	1.4
Eggs, mill pcs	750.1	800.7	6.7

* Provisional data

The average purchase prices of meat rose from 1 492 EUR/t in 2016 to 1 529 EUR/t in 2017 or by 2.5 %. The sharpest increase was observed in purchase prices of beef and veal – of 11.5 %, reaching 1 782 EUR/t in 2017. The average purchase prices of pork grew from 1 406 EUR/t in 2016 to 1 504 EUR/t in 2017 or by 7.0 % and prices of mutton rose from 3 358 EUR/t to 3 400 EUR/t or by 1.3 %.

Milk output increased slightly, while its purchase prices grew significantly

In 2017, 1000.1 thou. tonnes of milk (incl. goat milk) were produced, which is 13.9 thou. tonnes or 1.4 % more than in 2016. The total increase in milk output was affected by the rise in milk yield per dairy cow – by 343 kg or 5.5 %, reaching 6 525 kg annually.

The most notable milk output rise was recorded in Pierīga region (of 10.3 thou. tonnes or 6.4 %, compared to the year before) and Vidzeme region (8.4 thou. tonnes or 3.5 %), while the greatest output reduction was observed in Latgale region (of 6.7 thou. tonnes or 3.3 %).

Last year, 813.5 thou. tonnes or milk were purchased, which is 0.1 % less than in 2016. The average purchase prices of milk rose by 42.6 % – from 215 EUR/t in 2016 to 306 EUR/t in 2017. The lowest milk purchase price was recorded in May (288 EUR/t) and the highest in November (327 EUR/t).

Milk production, purchase and average purchase price

Decline in cattle and pig number, whereas increase in sheep number¹

At the end of 2017, agricultural holdings were breeding 405.8 thou. cattle, which is 6.5 thou. heads or 1.6 % less than in 2016. Number of dairy cows dropped by 3.7 thou. or 2.4 %; the greatest reduction was recorded in Zemgale region – of 1.3 thou. heads or 4.4 %, compared to the end of 2016.

In 2017, compared to 2016, number of exported live cattle increased by 6.5 thou. heads or 17.0 %. Calves aged under 8 months constituted 40.6 % of the total number of cattle exported (41.1 % in 2016). Number of imported cattle grew 1.5 times, heifers intended to restock cow herds constituted 46.3 % of the number.

Number of livestock at the end of the year
(thousands)

	2016	2017*	Changes (2017, compared to 2016), %
Cattle	412.3	405.8	-1.6
dairy cows	154.0	150.4	-2.4
Pigs	336.4	320.6	-4.7
Sheep	106.6	112.2	5.2
Goats	13.2	12.8	-3.1
Horses	9.3	8.9	-4.4

* Provisional data

African swine fever resulted in a decline in the pig number of 15.8 thou. or 4.7 % at the end of 2017. Compared to 2016, exports of live pigs increased by 15.9 thou. or 9.8 %. Out of the total number of pigs exported, piglets for fattening constituted 56.5 % (59.6 % in 2016). Number of imported pigs fell 2.4 times.

Compared to the end of 2016, number of sheep rose by 5.2 %.

Horse number keeps reducing, and at the end of 2017 it was 4.4 % smaller than a year ago.

¹ Data source of the information on number of cattle, sheep, goats and horses is Livestock Register of Agricultural Data Centre.

Media requests:
Communication Section
E-mail: media@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366621, +371 27880666

More information on data:
Lolita Lazda-Lazdiņa
Agricultural Statistics Section
E-mail: Lolita.Lazda@csb.gov.lv
Phone: +371 67366982

Agriculture

KEY INDICATORS

PUBLICATIONS

Press releases