In the first quarter of 2015, meat production and producer value declined by 2.7 per cent to 2,636 tonnes, and 5.4 per cent respectively when compared to the corresponding period in 2014.

This was due to drops of 15.3 and 3.6 per cent in the production of beef and pigmeat respectively. On the other hand, an increase of 2.6 per cent was registered in the production of broiler meat.

Lower beef production resulted from a 13.8 per cent drop in the number of slaughtered cattle. Slaughtered pigs decreased by 806 heads, reflecting a drop in the production of pigmeat in spite of an increase of 1.5 per cent in the average carcass weight. The increase in broiler meat production resulted from a 7.9 per cent rise in the number of slaughtered broilers.

The producer value of animals slaughtered at licensed slaughterhouses amounted to €5.7 million, 5.4 per cent less when compared to the first quarter of 2014.

This was brought about by decreases in the producer value of beef and pigmeat, of 11.6 and 6.8 per cent respectively. A marginal increase was noted in the producer value of broiler meat.

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