European livestock herd sizes sustained across-the-board reductions in 2025, signaling persistent shifts in animal agriculture demand and feed sector fundamentals. Recent Eurostat figures confirm both short-term contractions and substantial ten-year declines for pigs, bovines, sheep, and goats.

European herd sizes shrank across all major livestock categories in 2025, continuing a sustained downward trajectory for the region’s animal farming sector. Pig populations fell by 0.5% year-on-year to 131.5 million head, while bovine animal numbers contracted by 0.4% to reach 71.6 million. The small ruminant sector experienced steeper annual losses, with sheep dropping 2.2% to 55.3 million head and goat herds falling 2.5% to 10.2 million.

A DECADE OF SHRINKING HERDS

These year-over-year reductions reinforce a broader structural contraction recorded over the past decade. Compared to 2015 baseline figures, pig numbers in the European Union have fallen by 8.9% and bovine populations have decreased by 9.7%. Small ruminants have seen even sharper long-term declines, with sheep populations down 12.2% and goat herds shrinking by 17.5% over the ten-year period.

The official data, published by Eurostat, the statistical office of the EU, derives sheep and goat totals from key member states, utilizing estimates for missing country entries based on prior reporting periods.