European Union-Sheep and Goat production down 6%.

EUROPEAN UNION-EU sheep and goatmeat production down 6%

EUROPEAN UNION-EU sheepmeat and goatmeat production fell considerably in 2008, to 1.03 million tonnes cwt back 6% on the previous year. The decline was largely the result of large production falls across the EU’s major sheep and goatmeat producers, with the exception of the UK (EU Market Survey).

The UK recorded a 0.3% increase in production for 2008, to 326,000 tonnes cwt, despite a 6% rise in sheep and lamb slaughter. The small increase in production reflected the high carryover of light lambs from 2007, when trade was disrupted due to foot and mouth disease, in addition to earlier marketings due to higher prices.

Spain, the EU’s second largest sheepmeat producer after the UK, experienced a 20% drop in production in 2008, to 166,000 tonnes cwt the result of lower average slaughter weights, due to high feed costs, and earlier marketings. In France, production fell 7%, to 118,000 tonnes, as lower ewe numbers and productivity impacted numbers, along with reduced lamb carryover into 2008.

EU sheep and goatmeat production is forecast to continue declining through to 2015, given the contraction of the breeding flock, especially in the UK and France. In response however, sheepmeat imports are expected to moderately increase after 2009 in order to meet domestic demand, which is expected to decline at a slower rate than production (European Commission).