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The paper aimed to analyze the dynamics of livestock and milk and meat production in the top five EU countries growing sheep and goats: Spain, Romania, Greece, France and Italy. The empirical data from Eurostat and Faostat for the period 2012-2021 were processed using usual methods and procedures like fixed basis and structural indices, trend regression equation, determination coefficient and points method. The comparison between these five countries pointed out the decline of sheep number in four countries, except Romania and the decrease in goats number in Greece and Spain, but an increase in Romania, France and Italy. Ewe milk production increased in three countries, except Spain where it remained relatively constant and Romania where it declined. Goat milk production raised in three countries, except Greece and Romania. Sheep meat output increased in France and Spain, but in the other countries went down, while goat meat output increased only in Spain, the other four states recording a decline. In the year 2021, these five countries all together counted 46.1 million sheep, representing 76.% of the EU sheep livestock, and also they had 9.4 million goats, meaning 82.1% of the EU goats livestock. In 2020, all these countries produced 2.73 million tonnes sheep milk and 1.87 million tonnes goat milk, accounting for 1.7% and respectively 1.16% in the EU milk output. These counties also contributed by 85% to the EU sheep and goat meat production. This reflects the importance of small ruminants in the EU animal livestock and production. These species have to help the EU for greening agriculture, as they could valorize natural resources from the mountains and less favored areas and also could be grown in organic farming system, assuring jobs and income to the local population, food security and at the same time contributing to the biodiversity preservation and production of renewable energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed the trends and relationships in the EU ewes and goats livestock and milk output in the period 2010-2018 based on Eurostat Data using the fixed basis index, descriptive statistics, average yearly growth rate, Bravais- Pearson correlation coefficients, determination coefficient and regression models. The results attested the important contribution given by the two species to the EU milk sector in order to diversify cheese varieties and stimulate consumption and export. While sheep livestock declined in general, and the goats population increased, ewes and goats' milk delivered to dairy industry increased. In the decreasing order, the main EU countries raising sheep are Spain, Romania, Greece, Italy and France, and the main countries growing goats are Greece, Spain, Romania, France, Italy and Netherlands. Raw milk production increased in case of the both species in many countries. Ewe milk is mainly produced in Greece, Spain, Italy and France, while goat milk is especially produced in France, Spain, Netherlands and Greece. The diverse policies, management and marketing and production performance from a country to another pointed out the need to improve farmers skills in resources, livestock and production management, to encourage them to join in associations to benefit of low-price inputs and a direct access to market. The coupled aids financed by the EU are incentives to sustain sheep and goat farming and dairy sector, farmers' income, the valorization of the natural resources, the development of the disadvantaged rural and peri-urban areas, animal health and welfare, environment quality and biodiversity, and the offer of organic dairy products to consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper analyzed pork market in the EU and in the top 10 pork producing countries in the period 2007-2018 based on the statistical data using dynamics analysis based on fixed basis index, and trend analysis based on polynomial and linear equations. The pig number declined in the EU, accounting for 148.2 million heads in 2018. In this year, there were slaughtered 259.3 million pigs from which there were obtained 23.84 million tonnes pork, by 3.8% more than in 2007. About 64% of the EU pork output is carried out in Germany, Spain, France, Denmark and Netherlands. The EU pork exports reached 3.93 million tonnes in 2018, 2 times more than in 2007. The pork imports are not significant and declined. The EU export value was double in 2018, accounting for Euro 7.3 billion, of which 71% is due to Spain, Germany, Denmark and Netherlands. The EU-28 is the top pork exporter in the world, its trade balance reached Euro 7.2 Billion in 2018, being 2.3 times higher than in 2007. The highest trade balance is registered by Spain, Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Italy, and France. The average pork carcass price was Euro 142.04 in 2018 at the EU level. Pork is the most consumed meat in the EU, an inhabitant consuming 35 kg per year, 3 times more than the world average. As a final conclusion, the main trends which will continue in the near future in the EU pork market are the following ones: the decline in pig livestock, the slight growth of pork production, the intensification of exports, the decrease in imports and a slight decline of consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]