In 2017, 26.12 million animals on average were slaughtered on a monthly basis. That is what emerged from the slaughtering figures for 2017 published by Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. In terms of weight, pigs account for the largest share (59 %, 912,000 pigs on average on a monthly basis). Chickens register the highest numbers, with an average of 25 million chickens slaughtered per month.
Slight increase for bovine animals, slight decrease for pigs and chickens
Over the year 2017, 920,000 bovine animals were slaughtered. This is a slight increase of 1 % compared to the previous year. The upward trend of the last four years continues for bovine animals. Throughout the year, 10.95 million pigs were slaughtered. This is a slight decrease of -2 % compared to 2016. In 2016, a decrease of -6 % was already registered compared to 2015. 300.50 million chickens were slaughtered in 2017. This is also a decrease of -2 %, after three consecutive years of rising.
Pigs register the highest weight
- With a share of 59 % in terms of weight, the pig sector remains the largest contributor of slaughtered animals. That is 1.04 billion kg of slaughter weight every year.
- The poultry sector accounts for 25 % of the slaughter weight, with 455 million kg of slaughtered chickens.
- The bovine sector has a share of 16 % in terms of weight, with a total of 282 million kg of slaughtered animals.
Chickens register the highest numbers per month
If we look at the average number of slaughtered animals per month, we find the following:
- 25 million chickens
- 912,000 pigs
- 77,000 bovine animals
- 65,000 turkeys
- 12,000 sheep
- 5,000 other poultry
- 4,000 ducks
- 1,000 goats
- 500 horses