Egg production was the smallest in years
According to preliminary data of Statistics Estonia, in 2019, milk production increased by 3% and meat production by 5%, while egg production was smaller than ever. Compared to 2018, the number of dairy cows, sheep and poultry decreased, while the number of pigs increased.
In 2019, the production of eggs amounted to 145.3 million, which is 29% less than in 2018. Production has decreased since the first quarter of 2018 and reached an all-time low of 30 million eggs in the 4th quarter of 2019. The number of poultry decreased 5% year on year, totalling 2 million at the end of 2019.
At the end of 2019, cattle numbered 254,000, including 85,000 dairy cows. Compared to the same time a year ago, there was 0.8% more cattle, whereas the number of dairy cows fell by 0.2%. There is a continuing trend that the number of dairy cows declines, but the annual average milk yield per cow increases. In 2019, the average milk yield per cow was 9,633 kilogrammes, i.e. 346 kilogrammes more than in 2018. The total milk production was 821,500 tonnes, which is an increase of 3% compared to the previous year.
There were 306,300 pigs in Estonia, which is the highest number in the last five years. Sheep and goats totalled 74,400 and their number has decreased in the last five years. In 2019, compared to 2018, there were 5% less sheep and goats, while compared to 2015, the decrease was 18%.
The production of meat increased by 5% year on year. 77,800 tonnes (carcass weight) of livestock and poultry were sold for slaughter (incl. export) and slaughtered in holdings. The production of beef decreased by 6% and mutton and goat meat by 13%. The production of pork increased by 8% and poultry meat by 5%.
The statistics are based on the data of the register of farm animals of the Agricultural Registers and Information Board (ARIB) and on the data of Estonian Livestock Performance Recording Ltd, which by using models have been converted to the format necessary for producing statistics. In addition, the data of the statistical questionnaire “Poultry” have been used. For the statistical activity “Livestock farming and meat production”, the main representative of public interest is the Ministry of Rural Affairs, commissioned by whom Statistics Estonia collects and analyses the data necessary for conducting this statistical activity.