The number of slaughtered pigs increased by 0.5% or 107,000 animals to 22.2 million in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year.
The number of domestically produced pigs slaughtered was 21.9 million animals ( +163,800 animals or +0.8%). Domestically produced animals accounted for 98.4% of the total number of slaughtered pigs. The number of slaughtered pigs of foreign origin decreased by 14.0% to 349,200 animals.
The amount of pork produced in the first half of 2026 was 2.2 million tonnes, an increase of 10,300 tonnes or 0.5% .
Beef production remained virtually unchanged at -0.1%.
Beef production fell by 600 tons, or 0.1%, to 462,200 tons in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year. With 1.4 million cattle slaughtered, farms processed 0.1%, or 1,900 fewer cattle, than in the same period of the previous year.
Poultry meat production fell by 3.2%
In the first half of 2026, a total of 343.2 million poultry of various species were slaughtered in Germany. The number of animals slaughtered decreased by 0.8%. At approximately 755,000 tons, poultry meat production was 3.2% lower than in the same period of the previous year (-24,900 tons).
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 2026, 63.7% of the total meat produced came from slaughtered pigs. This was followed by poultry with a share of 22.3% and beef with 13.7%. Meat from sheep, goats, and horses made up only about 0.3% of total production.
