European livestock sector sees shrinkage in German pig farms and price shifts in Spanish sheep market

Germany's number of pig farms continued to fall, with the Federal Statistical Office reporting 14,700 farms as of 3 May 2026 – a 3.2 % decrease from November 2025 and a 40 % drop since 2016. The total pig census rose slightly to 21.0 million animals, up 0.6 % year‑on‑year, while the average size of a farm grew to about 1,400 pigs, compared with 1,100 in 2016.

In Spain, the Salamanca Agricultural Exchange released ovine price data for 29 June 2026. Prices for lighter lambs (up to 11 kg) increased, whereas prices for larger lamb categories fell, and the price for adult sheep remained steady at €1.20 per kilogram.