Decline in Pig, Cow Milk, and Chicken Egg Production

According to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS), in 2022, cattle production increased, while at the same time production of pigs, cow milk, and chicken eggs declined.

DZS data on livestock production in 2022 compared to 2021 shows that pig production decreased by three percent, to 172,243 tons.

The number of sows bred in 2022 decreased compared to the previous year by about 203 thousand heads or by 12.8 percent.

In foreign trade in 2022 compared to the previous year, there was a decrease in the export of pigs of all categories by 4.6 percent, to 349 thousand heads, while their total import increased by 6.1 percent, to 658 thousand heads. According to DZS data, cattle production last year increased by 11.5 percent compared to the previous year, to 91,586 tons. In the same period, the total number of calves born decreased by five thousand heads or by 4.1 percent.

Total cattle exports in 2022 increased by 11.1 percent, to 80 thousand heads, while their total imports decreased by 6.2 percent, to 152 thousand heads.

Cow milk production last year amounted to 507.2 million liters and decreased compared to the previous year by 6.3 percent. Sheep production last year increased by 1.3 percent compared to the previous year, to 10,654 tons, while the total number of lambs born increased by 0.4 percent. Sheep milk production increased by 7.3 percent, to 5.6 million liters.

Goat production simultaneously decreased by 0.8 percent, while the number of kids born decreased by 3.6 percent. Goat milk production fell by 7.2 percent, to 6.5 million liters.

Decline in Chicken Egg Production

DZS data shows that chicken egg production in 2022 decreased by 9.4 percent compared to the previous year, to 666.97 million pieces, while the production of eggs from other poultry increased by 50.3 percent, to 789 thousand pieces.

DZS notes that the reference date for recording annual livestock data for 2022 was changed from December 1 to November 1, which could affect the movement of the index for certain variables compared to 2021.