France livestock population: cattle 2 years old or over
France livestock population: cattle 2 years old or over stood at 8,792.74 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 1973 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 16,236.7 | 16,478.26 | 16,806.9 | 16,986.19 | 17,330.08 | 17,815.67 | 18,172.97 | 18,613.04 | 18,953.58 | 19,373.38 | |
| Cattle 2 years old or over1 | 8,792.74 | 8,920.28 | 9,021.05 | 9,126.55 | 9,364.04 | 9,633.91 | 9,865 | 10,128.65 | 10,301.37 | 10,324.31 | |
| Cows | 6,615.2 | 6,754.66 | 6,904.37 | 7,020.49 | 7,204.4 | 7,379.39 | 7,505.13 | 7,649.9 | 7,751.31 | 7,880.1 |
Understanding france livestock population: cattle 2 years old or over
Adult bovine livestock aged two years and older enumerates fully matured cattle physically located within national territory during the annual livestock census. The category encompasses both breeding females and male breeding animals alongside mature steers and oxen retained past their initial developmental phase, while excluding all calves and younger adolescent animals categorized under distinct age brackets. This adult cohort forms the backbone of the domestic herd structure, capturing the long-term capital assets of agricultural holdings that supply replacement stock and sustain operational continuity across primary production sectors.
Interpreting annual counts requires accounting for biological maturation cycles that naturally lag behind shifting market signals or feed availability constraints. Early census figures often undergo retrospective adjustments once administrative registers and slaughterhouse records are fully reconciled. Analysts should compare identical periods across consecutive years to bypass seasonal herd management shifts, noting that structural breaks occasionally arise from alterations in farm registry thresholds or EU livestock survey methodologies. Evaluating this mature animal inventory alongside carcass weight yields or milk production metrics helps contextualize underlying productivity trends without conflating herd size with immediate market supply.
Frequently asked questions
- What animals are included in the cattle aged two years or over series?
- The count covers all bovine animals of either sex that have reached or exceeded twenty-four months of age, including breeding bulls, mature cows, and older steers.
- Why should this series be analyzed alongside younger cattle categories?
- Comparing mature stock with adolescent and juvenile cohorts reveals the replacement dynamics and future expansion capacity of the national herd.
- How frequently is the cattle population survey conducted?
- The inventory is compiled through annual agricultural surveys aligned with European statistical regulations.