France livestock population: breeding female goats
France livestock population: breeding female goats stood at 1,157.39 thousand heads in 2025, according to Eurostat – crop production in EU standard humidity (apro_cpsh1), French agricultural statistics. It is one of the indicators in the Agriculture: annual production and accounts table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2025 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Agriculture: annual production and accounts table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goats | 1,371.93 | 1,339 | 1,340 | 1,353 | 1,411 | 1,413.98 | 1,242 | 1,252 | 1,213 | 1,204 | |
| Breeding female goats | 1,157.39 | ||||||||||
| Other goats | 214.54 | 196 | 205 | 198 | 216 | 235.51 | 184 | 194 | 174 | 183 |
Understanding france livestock population: breeding female goats
This measure isolates female caprine animals that have been mated or selected specifically for reproduction, forming a targeted subset of the broader domestic herd. The scope includes mature females that have kidded at least once, alongside younger females intended for future mating, while excluding castrated females, males, and animals destined solely for slaughter. By separating breeding animals from the general population, this metric highlights the reproductive capacity of the sector rather than short-term fluctuations in meat-ready stock. It contrasts with total herd counts by focusing strictly on the segment driving future population replenishment.
Evaluating the series necessitates accounting for seasonal culling policies, as older breeding females are routinely replaced following the primary kidding season. Revisions often emerge as agricultural authorities refine sample weights for smaller specialized holdings during post-enumeration processing. Observers must rely on twelve-month comparisons to filter out seasonal breeding rhythms and identify genuine structural shifts in flock capacity. A common pitfall is treating changes in breeding female counts as an immediate indicator of annual milk or meat supply, given the substantial lag before offspring enter production cycles.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this series differ from the total goat population count?
- This metric restricts its scope to female animals kept specifically for breeding, whereas the total population includes males, young kids, and non-breeding stock.
- Why do revisions typically occur in preliminary breeding female estimates?
- Statistical agencies adjust early figures when delayed survey responses from smaller specialized holdings are fully processed and integrated into the dataset.
- Can changes in breeding female numbers predict short-term meat output?
- No, because the biological gestation and rearing timeline creates a significant lag before breeding decisions translate into marketable production volumes.