Thuringia in a cattle emergency: stocks continue to fall at an alarming rate!

Thuringia in a cattle emergency: stocks continue to fall at an alarming rate!

Cattle numbers in Thuringia have once again declined, posing challenges for farmers and the entire industry in the region. On May 3, 2024, only 257,717 cattle were counted. This means a decrease of 7,474 animals compared to November 2023 and a decrease of 9,889 animals compared to May 2023, as reported by [Nachnachrichten-heute.net/1395844-rinderbestaende-in-thueringen-gehen-weiter-zurueck.html]. The number of calves has also fallen and this has a direct impact on future rearing and meat production.

The calf population in Thuringia in particular stood at 48,979 animals in May 2024, which corresponds to a decline of around 8.3 percent compared to the previous year. There is also a slight decline in cows, which is noticeable at 0.5 percent. The number of dairy cows also fell by 0.2 percent to 78,914. In contrast, an increase of 2.3 percent was observed in young cattle over eight months, which somewhat revives the dynamics within cattle farming.

Distribution of cattle herds

A look at the geographical distribution shows that the highest numbers of cattle can be seen primarily in the Saale-Orla district with 31,655 animals, in the Greiz district with 28,391 animals and in the Wartburg district with 26,708 animals. These three districts make up around a third of the entire Thuringian cattle population. The proportion of cattle raised organically is 6 percent, which indicates a growing sensitivity towards sustainable agriculture.

Historical declines

Breeding in Thuringia

Thuringia itself has traditional, high-quality cattle farming, with the regional association of Thuringian Rinderzüchter e. G. 24 different breeds of beef cattle are cared for. The Simmental Simmental is particularly well represented. According to the Thuringian State Institute for Agriculture, breeders have very special requirements for hereditary strength in order to increase the quality of the animals and ultimately the products.

“The fattening of meat breed animals improves fattening performance and carcass value,” said an expert. This shows that cattle fattening in Thuringia focuses on quality rather than quantity, also in order to meet the challenges of the market.

It remains to be seen how the situation surrounding cattle farming in Thuringia will develop and what measures farmers will take to stop and possibly even reverse the decline in stocks. One thing is clear: there is something going on and the cattle farmers in Thuringia need a good hand for the future.