LIVESTOCK DECLINE AND ANIMAL OUTPUT GROWTH IN THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE PERIOD 2012-2021.

The paper analyzed the EU's livestock and animal production in the decade 2012-2021 using the Eurostat data which were statistically processed using dynamics and structural indices and regression equations. The results pointed out that the EU livestock declined by about 9%, so that in 2021, it numbered 77.54 million bovines, 142.73 million pigs, 63.23 million sheep and 12.45 million goats. EU had 5.7 million animal holdings in 2016, by -37.6% less than in 2005, representing 54.28% of the total number of the EU farms. The highest number of bovines are reared in France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Poland, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Romania. While their number decreased in France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Romania, in Ireland, Spain, Poland and Italy it increased. Pigs are mainly grown in Spain, Germany, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Romania. While in Spain and Denmark it recorded an upward trend, in Germany, France, Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Belgium and Romania pig number declined. Sheep are especially reared in Spain, Greece, Romania, France, and Italy. The sheep number increased by 14% only in Romania, while in the other countries it decreased. Goats number increased in Italy, Romania and France, while in Greece and Spain it registered a downward tendency. Animal output volume and value registered an increasing trend. Milk production increased by +10.3% reaching 160.14 million tonnes in 2020, of which 70% is produced by Germany, France, Poland, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Romania and Austria. Meat production accounted for 43.92 million tonnes in 2021, being by 11.50% higher than in 2012. In its structure, 52.3% is pork, 31% is poultry meat, 15.5% is beef and veal and 1.2 % comes from sheep and goats. France and Germany are the largest meat producing countries. Beef is mainly produced in France, Germany and Spain, poultry in Poland and France, pork in Germany, Spain and France, sheep meat in Spain, France, Ireland and Greece and goat meat in Greece and Spain. In 2021, the animal output value accounted for Euro 162.81 million being by 7.1% higher than in 2012. France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Ireland and Denmark contributes by 70%. In the future it is expected to continue the decline in livestock, the increase of yield and its quality, farmers paying more attention to organic farming, animal health and welfare, food quality and security and also to environment protection and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]