France livestock slaughter head count: heifers
France livestock slaughter head count: heifers stood at 40.02 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 1968 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovine animals | 285.89 | 293.23 | 294.55 | 270.28 | 313.85 | 327.2 | 297.78 | 312.37 | 336.49 | 311.11 | |
| Adult cattle | 217.36 | 225.17 | 224.05 | 202.76 | 235.75 | 243.75 | 222.76 | 234.44 | 251.83 | 238.62 | |
| Heifers | 40.02 | 42.6 | 43.73 | 42.38 | 49.18 | 49.65 | 42.08 | 43.86 | 47.21 | 45.19 |
Understanding france livestock slaughter head count: heifers
The metric tallies the individual number of young female cattle that have reached maturity but have not yet calved, processed within certified slaughter facilities. The count records physical animal units, excluding older breeding cows, calves, and male stock. This series isolates the young female segment of the beef pipeline, offering insight into replacement heifer retention versus immediate slaughter decisions. It differs structurally from adult cow culling counts and male processing totals.
Monthly figures reflect specific farming cycles, breeding retention rates, and slaughterhouse scheduling constraints. Initial data points are provisional, relying on expedited plant reports that undergo standard administrative updates. When reading the chart, analysts should rely on year-on-year comparisons to bypass the noise of varying monthly working days and short-term operational shifts. Direct comparisons with live heifer inventories require accounting for the time lag between farm counts and abattoir processing.
Frequently asked questions
- What defines the animals counted in this series?
- They are young female cattle that have reached maturity without producing a calf.
- How does this differ from adult cow slaughter counts?
- It counts young developing females, whereas the cow series captures mature animals at the end of their production life.
- Why is annual comparison necessary for interpreting this data?
- Seasonal farm retention practices create recurring monthly fluctuations that make consecutive-month comparisons misleading.