Greek Livestock Sector Enters Structural Transition

[1m read]

The Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) has published the results of the 2025 Livestock Surveys, revealing not only a sharp downward trend across all major categories of productive animals, but also a clear concentration of production in fewer, larger holdings. The data indicate that Greek livestock farming is entering a phase of structural transition, marked by simultaneous reductions in both animal numbers and farm units, alongside an increase in animals per holding.

According to ELSTAT, the number of cattle decreased by 12.8%, falling to 519,167 animals compared with 595,153 in 2024. Livestock holdings raising cattle declined by 16.9%, from 9,499 to 7,898 units.

In pig farming, the reduction reached 7.2%, with the population dropping to 729,234 animals from 786,156 the previous year. The decline in pig holdings was even more pronounced, reaching 21.3%.

The steepest decrease was recorded in sheep, where the population fell by 17.2%, from 7,774,172 to 6,439,141 animals. Sheep holdings decreased by 18.3%, confirming the sector’s contraction.

Goat numbers declined by 9.2%, with the population standing at 2,340,620 animals compared with 2,576,743 in 2024. Goat holdings decreased by 13.4%.

Despite the overall decline, the number of animals per holding increased across all categories, indicating a shift toward larger, more concentrated production units. Indicatively, pigs per holding increased by 17.9%, while cattle per holding rose by 4.9%.

Overall, the country’s livestock population, expressed in Livestock Units (LU), decreased by 13.3%, reaching 1,430,306 LU in 2025. Sheep account for the largest share of total LU (45%), followed by cattle (25.7%), goats (16.4%) and pigs (12.9%).

The ELSTAT data depict a livestock sector undergoing transformation: fewer holdings, greater production concentration, and significant challenges for the primary sector as it adapts to new structural realities.