EU livestock production is set to decline across most sectors in 2026, with particularly sharp drops in sheep and goat numbers. In contrast, pig production is projected to rise, signaling a notable shift in the region’s livestock dynamics. The divergence points to changing supply patterns with implications for feed demand.

According to official data from Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, livestock production across the bloc is forecast to contract in 2026, led by steep declines in small ruminants. Sheep production is expected to fall by 17.8% to 12.2 million head in the second half of the year, while goat output is projected to drop by 17.1% to 1.9 million head over the same period.

Bovine production is also set to decrease, albeit more moderately. The EU’s gross indigenous production of cattle is forecast at 11.4 million head in the second semester of 2026, down 4.2% compared to the same period in 2025.

In contrast, pig production is projected to expand. Output is expected to reach 61.2 million head in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a 3.2% increase year-on-year. Spain is a key driver of this growth, with production forecast to rise by 12.0% to 15.8 million head, maintaining its position as the EU’s largest pig producer.

Among major cattle producers, France is set to remain the leading contributor despite a slight decline of 0.4%, accounting for 23.1% of total EU output. Germany is expected to see a marginal drop, while Ireland faces a steeper contraction. Spain stands out as the only major producer projected to increase bovine output.

These projections reflect ongoing structural adjustments within the EU livestock sector, shaped by economic pressures, environmental constraints and evolving market demand, with direct consequences for feed production and consumption patterns.