Belgium’s cattle population decreased in 2021 by 25,000 animals (-1.1 percent), ending the year on 2.3 million animals.
The pig population also decreased, dropping by 2.8 percent to 6 million animals, according to figures published by the federal statistical service, Statbel.
The decline in the cattle population was greater in Wallonia (-1.6%) than in Flanders (-0.6%). The main reduction was in breeding heifers, which are young cows that have not yet calved or have calved for the first time and are used for breeding. Their number went down by 67% or 16,811 animals.
The next largest decreases were among suckler cows (-16%) and male cattle (-eight percent).
The decrease in the pig population occurred in all categories, except for pigs from 20 to 50 kilos, whose number increased by 11.8%. The number of sows covered decreased by 3.4%, while the number of sows not covered increased by 3.1%. All this appears to indicate that the pig herd will fall even further.
Poultry decreased by 0.4% compared to 2020. More than 80% of the poultry stock is located in Flanders, although poultry is increasing every year in Wallonia.
The data from Statbel also confirmed that there were more than 36,000 agricultural companies in Belgium in 2021, the same number as in 2020. Two thirds of these companies are located in Flanders; more than half of the total utilized agricultural area is located in Wallonia.
Statbel’s figures also confirm that fewer potatoes were produced in 2021 in order to eliminate the large stocks resulting from the corona crisis.
Meanwhile, due to increasing demand, the acreage devoted to spelt reached a record high of almost 19,000 hectares (+23%) in 2021.
