France livestock slaughter head count: goats
France livestock slaughter head count: goats stood at 8.71 thousand heads in Aug 2026, according to Eurostat – slaughtering in slaughterhouses, monthly (apro_mt_pheadm), Agreste. It is one of the indicators in the Livestock production (monthly) table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1975 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Livestock production (monthly) table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of animals slaughtered | |||||||||||
| Goats | 8.71 | 12.5 | 21.44 | 42.49 | 75.67 | 191.83 | 62.74 | 20.77 | 48.48 | 33.85 | |
| Bovine animals | 285.89 | 293.23 | 294.55 | 270.28 | 313.85 | 327.2 | 297.78 | 312.37 | 336.49 | 311.11 |
Understanding france livestock slaughter head count: goats
Recording the discrete physical volume of caprine animals processed within commercial abattoirs, this dataset tallies the absolute head count of goats directed into the meat production chain. The scope is limited strictly to animals entering regulated slaughter lines, leaving out any domestic or on-farm processing. Distinct from bovine or ovine tallies, this caprine series highlights a specialized niche sector characterized by different breeding cycles, supply chains, and consumer demand patterns than other ruminant categories.
Seasonal fluctuations strongly influence monthly readings, driven by traditional culinary calendars and herd management practices that dictate culling schedules. Early estimates undergo periodic revisions as regional abattoirs reconcile their administrative logs with centralized agricultural statisticians. When evaluating the series, analysts must rely on annual reference frames rather than sequential monthly variations to avoid misinterpreting routine farming calendars as structural shifts. Correlating these counts with meat tonnage figures requires acknowledging that caprine carcass weights are substantially lighter and more variable than those of larger livestock.
Frequently asked questions
- What animals are included under this specific caprine head count?
- The series covers all goats, including kids and mature animals, processed through licensed slaughter facilities.
- How frequently are the initial monthly slaughter figures updated?
- Early estimates are subject to routine revisions during subsequent reporting cycles as late administrative returns arrive.
- Is this series a reliable proxy for total national livestock inventory?
- No, slaughter head counts measure processing throughput rather than the total living farm population.