The price of meat, particularly beef, has risen sharply in recent months, according to the latest report by the Agricultural Sector Observatory presented by the College of Producers at the Libramont Agricultural Fair.
This price increase is mainly due to animal diseases, such as bluetongue and avian flu, leading to a reduced livestock population.
In the EU alone, 19 million poultry were culled in the first months of 2025, mostly in Poland. Consequently, standard chicken prices reached record levels in 2025, while conventional egg prices also remained high.
Beef prices have risen even more dramatically, finally allowing beef farmers to reach and exceed profitability, a milestone many hadn’t achieved in a decade.
“This is unprecedented in livestock farming over the last ten years. It’s hopeful, but it was tough for most farmers,” said Emmanuel Grosjean, coordinator of the College of Producers.
Although the price paid to beef producers has doubled (up 103%) since 2020, this increase is relatively recent, following years of stagnation.
“What farmers have awaited for a decade occurred in just over four months,” Grosjean noted.
Simultaneously, since 2020, beef prices in supermarkets have risen by 29%, now exceeding 23 euros per kilogramme.
According to the College of Producers, this rise hasn’t led to a collapse in beef consumption, although there has been a shift towards cheaper meats.
Despite these near-unexpected prices a year ago, during widespread farmer protests, uncertainty remains for farmers facing high production costs.
Over ten years, the cattle population in Wallonia has decreased by 22%, dropping below one million, with no short-term signs of recovery.
