Bovine population - annual data
methods, notes and classification
DATA_DESCR The survey results cover livestock of the bovine, porcine, ovine, and caprine species, broken down into animal categories by age or weight and certain uses. Once a year (November/December survey) relevant livestock statistics are broken down by territorial units defined by EU legislation (NUTS 2 level).
CLASS_SYSTEM According to Regulation (EC) No 1165/2008 on livestock and meat statistics, the results must cover the following categories of animals: For cattle: A Bovine animals aged not over than 1 year: a) calves and young cattle for slaughter; b) other: ba male; bb female; B Bovine animals aged over 1 year but under 2 years (except females that calved): a) male; b) female (heifers; animals that have not yet calved); ba animals for slaughter; bb other; C Bovine animals of 2 years and over: a) male; b) female: ba heifers; 1. heifers for slaughter; 2. other; bb cows (include bovines under 2 years old that have calved): 1. dairy cows; 2. other; D Buffaloes: a) female breeding buffaloes; b) other buffaloes. For pigs: A Piglets with a live weight of less than 20 kg; B Pigs with a live weight of 20 kg or more but less than 50 kg; C Fattening pigs, including cull boars and cull sows with a live weight: a) of 50 kg or more but less than 80 kg; b) of 80 kg or more but less than 110 kg; c) of 110 kg or more; D Breeding pigs with a live weight of 50 kg and higher; a) boars; b) covered sows, of which: b1 sows covered for the first time; c) other sows, of which: c1 gilts not yet covered; For sheep and goats: Sheep A ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram: a) milk ewes and milk ewe lambs put to the ram; b) other ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram; B other sheep. Goats A goats which have already kidded and goats mated: a) goats which have already kidded; b) goats mated for the first time; B other goats. The regions used to show the breakdown of livestock numbers are defined in the Territorial Statistical Units Nomenclature (NUTS), as per European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1059/2003.
STAT_CONC_DEF Most Member States use statistical surveys to establish their cattle, pig, sheep and goat livestock numbers. However, the use of administrative sources is also allowed. There is no legal obligation to produce livestock statistics for poultry, horses, donkeys, mules or other animals. However, for poultry, some estimates are produced on the basis of (i) the number of eggs incubated, (ii) trade in day-old chicks and (iii) chicks are placed. It is difficult to establish estimates of livestock numbers for equidae because this category is not strictly agricultural, as horses are not always raised specifically for meat production. It is therefore difficult to devise a suitable sample design. All indicators are expressed in numbers of heads. Cattle: Domestic animals of the species Bos taurus, Bubalus bubalis, including hybrids like Beefalo. Calves and young cattle for slaughter: Bovine animals aged not over 1 year old for slaughter. Heifers: Female bovines that have not yet calved and which are not included under calves and young cattle. Heifers for slaughter: Heifers raised for meat production. Other heifers: Heifers raised for breeding and intended to replace dairy or other cows. Cows: Female bovines that have calved (including any aged less than two years). Dairy cows: Cows kept exclusively or principally for the production of milk for human consumption and/or dairy produce, including cows for slaughter (fattened or not between last lactation and slaughter). Other cows: Cows other than dairy cows, possibly including any draught cows. Pigs: Domestic animals of the species Sus scrofa domestica. Sheep: Domestic animals of the species Ovis aries. Ewes and ewe lambs put to the ram: females of the ovine species which have already lambed at least once as well as those which have been put to the ram for the first time. Milk ewes: ewes which are kept exclusively or principally to produce milk for human consumption and/or for processing into dairy products. This includes cast milk sheep (whether fattened or not between their last lactation and slaughtering). Other ewes: ewes other than milk ewes. Lambs: male or female sheep under 12 months old. Goats: domestic animals of the species Capra aegagrus hircus.
STAT_UNIT Livestock surveys are carried out on agricultural holdings, in accordance with the following definitions: An 'agricultural holding' means any technical and economic unit under single management which produces agricultural products. A sample survey means statistical surveys based on stratified random sampling which are designed to provide representative statistics. The stratification should ensure that different sizes and types are represented. The survey covers agricultural holdings with a utilised agricultural area of 1 ha or more or agricultural holdings with a utilised agricultural area of less than 1 ha, if their production is to a certain extent intended for sale or if their production unit exceeds certain natural thresholds. Sample surveys must cover sufficient agricultural holdings to account for at least 95% of the entire animal population. Member States conducting sample surveys must ensure precision requirements established by the legislation. If a Member State decides to use administrative soures, the information obtained must be at least of equal quality to surveys. Results are agreggated at national level and presented in 1000 heads.
STAT_POP Only livestock belonging to agricultural holdings as defined above are surveyed. Some livestock may slip through the survey net, as it is possible that they have not yet been born during one survey and have already been slaughtered by the time of the following survey.
REF_AREA European Union, Member States The survey results are compiled at Member State level. Most Member States use the November/December surveys or another more precise survey to produce results per region at a specific NUTS level.
BASE_PER Data are available since January 1970 depending on the animal species and date of accession to the EU.
UNIT_MEASURE The units of measure are 1000 heads.
Methods 
Explanatory Notes 
Variables