Sharp Decline in Sheep and Cattle Farming in Spain

Livestock farms in Spain continue to decrease in number overall, while simultaneously expanding in size, according to data fr om the Ministry of Agriculture. A stark example of this trend is the dairy cattle sector, wh ere the number of farmers reporting deliveries reduced to 9,236 in January, a drop from both the previous month and year.

Milk production slightly decreased, yet the average weighted price remained relatively stable at 49.5 cents per liter, indicating a mild upward trend since September last year. Over the past decade, cattle farms in Spain have diminished by almost 20%, according to the Animal Traceability System data.

Despite the halving of dairy farms since 2014, milk production has shown an increase, suggesting improved yields per dairy cow. On the other hand, pig and sheep meat production experienced a decline in 2023 but showed signs of recovery last year.