Bavaria's Cattle Numbers and Farmers Continue to Decline

Bavaria is experiencing a sustained decline in its cattle population and the number of farmers raising them. As of May 3, the Bavarian State Office for Statistics reported 2,685,976 animals, a decrease of 18,160 or 0.7% compared to the previous year. The trend has been consistent since at least 2013, when Bavaria had approximately 52,400 cattle farmers and 3.23 million animals.

The number of farmers specifically raising cows has seen an even sharper decline, dropping by 756 or 2% to 36,898. This downward trend is particularly pronounced among dairy farmers, whose numbers have decreased by a disproportionately high 2.9%. Despite this, the population of dairy cows, the largest group within the total animal stock at 1.03 million, has seen only a minimal decline. The average farm size has increased, with dairy farms now averaging 48 animals and overall farms averaging nearly 73 animals.

Experts suggest that the ongoing structural changes in agriculture, coupled with recent low milk prices, could be contributing factors to this decline. From September to April, milk prices dropped by about 14 cents per kilogram, falling significantly below the five-year average. In contrast, prices for slaughter cattle have performed better in the medium term, showing a notable increase after a dip in the spring, and remaining well above 2024 levels.

Even the organic farming sector is not immune to this trend. The number of organically raised cattle decreased by just over 1% to 263,957, a rate slightly faster than the overall decline. Currently, approximately one in every ten cattle in Bavaria is raised organically. This persistent decrease in cattle farming raises questions about the future of the sector in the region.