Livestock production, 2023

Annual production of bovine and pigs meat down, of poultry, sheep and goat meat up

In 2023, bovine and pigs meat production decreased, while poultry, sheep and goat meat production increased over the previous year. The production of cow’s and goat’s milk went down, of honey significantly. At the same time, the production of ewe’s milk and of hen’s eggs went up.

  • 15 May 2024 at 10:30
  • |
  • provisional data
Production of meat, milk and hen's eggs in 2023

Gross indigenous production of bovine meat in 2023 was about 44,000 tonnes, of pig meat about 24,000 tonnes, of poultry meat about 77,000 tonnes, of sheep meat about 1,400 tonnes and of goat meat about 300 tonnes. 

Laying hens produced about 432 million eggs. In addition, about 588 million litres of cow’s milk, about 0.7 million litres of ewe’s milk and about 1.7 million litres of goat's milk were produced.


The production of bovine meat lower at the annual level

The amount of meat from slaughterhouses was 8% lower than in the previous year. No slaughter of bovine animals outside slaughterhouses was recorded, which is why total slaughter of bovine animals was the same as the amount of meat from slaughterhouses. At the annual level, a decrease in gross indigenous production (by about 11%) was recorded. In the same comparison, total indigenous meat production decreased by about 5%.

In the balance of animals in 2023, a lower number was recorded in most categories of animals. The only increase was recorded in the number of imported live animals (by about 5%). The number of exported live animals decreased by about 10%. The number of slaughtered animals (balance year December–November) went down by about 8% over 2022. The number of new-born animals was lower by about 6% and losses were about 5% lower than in 2022. 


Less cow’s milk produced 

The production of cow’s milk was about 3% lower than in 2022 (i.e. by about 20 million litres).


Less pig meat produced than a year earlier

Pig meat production was lower than in the previous year (by about 9%). The number of pigs went down again. Last year, it was the lowest since 1991. 

In 2023, a decrease in the amount of pig meat from slaughterhouses was recorded (by about 12%). Total indigenous meat production was lower by about 5% over 2022. Gross indigenous production was also lower (by about 9%).

In the balance of pigs in 2023 over 2022, we noticed that almost all categories went down, except the export went up by about 24%. From 2017 on (when fewer than 100 animals were exported), we noticed the trend of growth in exported animals and in 2023 we recorded about 20,000 exported animals. 

In the past few years we pointed out that the export of animals was the smallest category in amount, but with this last trend the number of exported animals has been growing noticeably. 

The number of animals at the beginning and at the end of the year went down; the latter by 3%. The number of imported animals went down by about 8%. The number of new-born animals was lower by about 3%. Also the number of slaughtered animals went down by about 9% over 2022. Losses were about the same as in the previous year.


Poultry meat production and the number of hen’s eggs up

In 2023, the production of poultry meat (gross indigenous production) went up by about 3% over the previous year. The number of laying hens increased by about 24% and the number of hen’s eggs by about 5%.

It is important to take into account that the data on the number of animals were obtained on the reference day (1 December), while the data on the number of hen’s eggs production refer to the observation period of last year (balance year December–November).

The number of laying hens that in 2023 were laying eggs for human consumption increased over 2022 by about 7%. The number of eggs for human consumption went up by 6%.


The production of sheep and goat meat, and of ewe’s milk up, of goat’s milk down

In comparison with 2022, the production of sheep and goat meat increased: of the former by about 5% and of the latter by about 1%. However, it is important to point out that the number of sheep and goats is rather small (especially goats) and both types of meat represent only very small shares in total meat production. 

The production of goat’s milk went down by about 21%, while the production of ewe’s milk went up by about 24%.


Significantly less honey produced than a year earlier

About 285 tonnes of honey was produced in 2023, about 2,100 tonnes fewer than a year earlier, which is about four times less than the average production in the past ten years.


Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.

Gross indigenous production, Slovenia
Gross indigenous production, Slovenia
1) Provisional data.
Total indigenous meat production, Slovenia
2021202220231)2023
2022
t (1.000)t (1.000)t (1.000)% change
Cattle84.481.276.8-5.4
Pigs37.431.630.1-4.7
Poultry101.1103.0105.12.1
1) Provisional data.
Production of cow's milk, hen's eggs and honey, Slovenia
2021202220231)2023
2022
% change
Milk (1,000 l)621,287607,1375876592)-3.2
Eggs (1,000)415,141412,565432,2884.8
Honey (t)1952,405285-88.1
1) Provisional data.
2) Less reliable estimate – use with caution.
METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
In calculating the bovine meat production, we supplemented the data from the monthly survey Slaughter in slaughterhouses (KME-ZAKOL/M) and the annual sample survey Livestock production and sown areas in autumn sowing (KME-DEC) with the data from the Central Register of Bovine Animals.

To estimate pig slaughter outside slaughterhouses (other slaughter) more accurately, we supplemented some estimates in the pig meat production calculation with the data from the annual sample survey Livestock production and sown areas in autumn sowing (KME-DEC).

The final data on the production of meat and other animal products (Livestock production, Slovenia, 2023) will be available at the end of August 2024 in the SiStat Database.

Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanations.


When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.