Germany: Meat production decreased slightly in the first half of 2025
Pork production 1.8% higher than in the first half of 2024
In the first six months of the year, farms slaughtered 22.1 million pigs. This was 0.7%, or 156,900 animals, more than in the same period last year.
98.2% of the slaughtered pigs (21.7 million) were of domestic origin. This represents an increase of 2.3%, or 486,600 animals, compared to the previous year. The number of slaughtered pigs of foreign origin, in contrast, decreased by 44.8%, or 329,700 animals, to 1.8% (406,000 animals).
The quantity of pork produced in the first half of 2025 was 2.1 million tonnes, 1.8% or 38,100 tonnes higher than the previous year.
Beef production 7.2% lower than in the same period last year
In contrast to pork production, beef production fell significantly in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. At 1.4 million cattle, farms slaughtered 7.9%, or 117,300, fewer cattle than in the same period last year. The volume of beef produced fell by 7.2%, or 36,100, to 462,200 tons. The average slaughter weight of cattle was just under 339.6 kilograms, approximately 2.5 kilograms higher than in the same period last year.
Poultry meat production almost unchanged
In the first half of 2025, a total of 346.1 million animals of various poultry species were slaughtered in Germany. Although the number of animals slaughtered increased slightly by 0.6%, approximately 779,900 tonnes of poultry meat were produced, 0.1% less than in the same period last year (-790 tonnes).
Pork accounts for the largest share of production
Pork has accounted for the largest share of commercial meat production in Germany for years. In the first half of 2025, 63.2% of the meat produced came from slaughtered pigs. This was followed by poultry with a share of 23.0% and beef with 13.6%. Meat from sheep, goats, and horses accounted for only around 0.3% of total production.
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