Decline in all animals, even in pig farming

From 2021 to 2024, livestock farms in the country have reported a decrease in the total livestock population, even in pig farming, where traditionally the business had shown stability. This is indicated by preliminary data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI), which provides accurate comparisons in agricultural production for the last four years – from 2021 to 2024. The decrease in the number of animals is evidently due to bankruptcies in livestock farming, which the state administration persistently fails to notice. Over the past 4 years, there has been a steady decline in the number of cattle, which decreased by 50,000 head from 589,500 in 2021 to 538,500 in 2024 (the data is not final). Dairy cows, which numbered 381,400 in 2021, were down to 338,600 in 2024. There was also a decline in buffaloes, which decreased from 21,700 in 2021 to 20,000 in 2024. Sheep numbers have decreased from 1,119,950 four years ago to just over 1 million – 1,020,900 – in 2024. Goats, which ...