NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY
Situation as on 1 November 2024

Data released in this First Release refer to the final number of livestock and poultry with the situation as on observed date and include reporting units that meet criteria set up for agricultural holdings engaged in breeding of livestock and poultry.

The total number of cattle increased by 1.7% in 2024 compared to 2023, whereas the total number of dairy cows remained at approximately the same level as in the previous year.

The total number of sheep in 2024 increased by 0.2%, with an increase of 1.6% in the number of ewes. At the same time, the total number of goats decreased by 6.8%, with simultaneous decrease recorded in all individual categories.

The number of pigs increased by 2.3%, with an increase of 5.7% in the breeding pigs.

Compared to 2023, the total number of poultry increased by 5.2%, with an increase of 7.4% in the number of chickens (broilers) and of 2.2% in the number of hens, whereas the number of turkeys decreased by 9.5%.

NOTES ON METHODOLOGY

Sources and methods of data collection

Data on the number of livestock and poultry are collected in two ways: on regular annual statistical survey on crop and animal production and by using administrative data sources.

Data on the number of livestock and poultry are collected using the Annual Survey on Crop and Animal Production (PO-71 form), which serves to collect data on the number as well as on the weight of pigs and poultry, production and losses of pigs and poultry, production and balance of eggs, production of milk (cows’, sheep’s and goats’), balance of milk as well as production of milk products and wool. The data are collected separately for business entities and parts thereof and for private family farms.

Data for business entities are collected via a web application through which the reporting units fill in data themselves.

Data for private family farms are collected by using the CATI method applied to the selected stratified sample. The sample for the Annual Survey on Crop and Animal Production (PO-71 form) has been selected on the basis of the Statistical Register of Agricultural Holdings and numbers approximately 25 000 units.

The expanded data have been compared to the data from previous years and to available administrative sources (the Single Register of Domestic Animals of the Ministry of Agriculture). On the basis of all available data, corrections were implemented as needed.

Data on the number of cattle, sheep and goats are taken over from the Single Register of Domestic Animals (JRDŽ), kept by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries as an administrative data source and refer to the reporting units entered in the Register of Farmers and engaged in the production and breeding of cattle, sheep and goats. This First Release does not include reporting units recorded in JRDŽ that are engaged exclusively in circulation of livestock, without keeping them longer for the purposes of fattening and breeding.

For the purpose of methodological harmonisation for individual categories of cattle, sheep and goats, an estimation of the their number has been performed based on historical survey data on animal production and other available sources.

All expanded data have been compared with data from previous years and with available administrative and other sources. If necessary, corrections have been made based on all available data.

The methodology for carrying out the livestock survey is based on Regulation (EC) No. 1165/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning livestock and meat statistics of 19 November 2008, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 617/2008 of 27 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for implementing Regulation (EC) No. 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs for hatching and farmyard poultry chicks of 27 June 2008 and the Methodological Basis for Gathering Data on Milk and Dairy Products Statistics (NN, No. 42/13).

Coverage and comparability

Reporting units are business entities and parts thereof, which are defined by section A Agriculture, forestry and fishing according to the National Classification of Activities, 2007 version (NN, Nos 58/07 and 72/07), as well as other business entities and parts thereof engaged in agricultural production that are classified elsewhere.

Reporting units are also private family farms engaged in the production of livestock and poultry.

Confidentiality

Aggregate data for which there are reasons for confidentiality (small number of units, the dominance rule or the secondary confidentiality rule), in accordance with the Official Statistics Act (NN, Nos 25/20 and 155/23) and the Ordinance on the Statistical Data Protection Method, are treated as confidential and therefore are not published.

Definitions

Cows are female bovine animals, which have already calved.

Heifers are selected female bovine animals that have not calved yet.

Sows are female breeding animals that have farrowed for at least once.

Mated sows are female breeding animals that have already farrowed and are expected to farrow again.

Gilts are selected young female breeding animals that have not farrowed yet.

Mated gilts are young female breeding animals that are expected to farrow for the first time.

Boars are male breeding animals.

Ewes for breeding are female breeding animals that have already lambed as well as those that are expected to lamb for the first time.

Other poultry includes domestic guineafowls, quails and other poultry bred primarily for the production of meat and eggs. Feathered game raised for hunting is excluded.

Published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Zagreb, Ilica 3, P. O. B. 80
Phone: (+385 1) 48 06 111
Press corner: press@dzs.hr

Persons responsible:
Edita Omerzo, Director of Spatial Statistics Directorate
Lidija Brković, Director General

Prepared by:
Mario Valentić and Ana Pavetić

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