Europe loses a million cows in a year: what's behind the collapse?

The cow population in the European Union has suffered an alarming decline. In just one year, one million cattle disappeared, according to Eurostat data. Looking at the 2021-2024 period, the cumulative decline reaches 1,763,000 cattle. This represents a 5% decrease in just three years, and a 2.3% decrease in the last year alone, which has raised concerns in various sectors. Despite this decline, some countries, such as Spain, have managed to maintain their production levels. According to official figures, net beef production in the Iberian country even increased last year. This is mainly due to a 13% reduction in live animal exports, which allowed for greater domestic availability for slaughter. Spain: Fewer Cows, More Beef In January 2025, Spain had 121,000 fewer cattle than in January 2024. Of these, 95,000 were suckler cows and 19,000 were dairy cows. The decline is explained by three factors: two consecutive years of drought (2022 and 2023), the emergence of Epizootic ...