Decline in calf slaughterings weakens after large drop

After a very large decline in the number of calf slaughterings in the first quarter of 2025, the decline in the second quarter turned out to be much smaller. Dutch slaughterhouses processed a total of around 340,000 calves in the period from April to June. After a decline in the number of slaughterings of over 18% in the months of January to March, the decrease in the period from April to June was much smaller. Dutch calf slaughterhouses processed 339,800 calves. In 2024, there were 372,000 in the same period. This means the number of slaughterings decreased by 32,000, or 8.6%. Although this is still a significant decline, the drop in the second quarter is notably smaller than in the first quarter. Meat production shrank more strongly Since the average slaughter weights were also under pressure, calf meat production declined percentage-wise a bit harder. The total production amounted to 54,000 tons in the second quarter. This was 6,000 tons (10%) less than in the same period last year. The total calf slaughter in the first 6 months of 2025 amounts to 667,500. In the first half of 2024, there were still 771,600. This means calf slaughter in the first half year decreased by 13.5%. As previously reported (link), a shrinking dairy cattle population in Northwest Europe, bluetongue, and the National termination programs for livestock farming locations (Lbv) play an important role in the shrinking calf supply. In recent months, the impact of bluetongue on the number of calves born has significantly decreased, and the supply has increased considerably. This may lead to a somewhat recovering supply of slaughter-ready veal calves in the long term. Calf slaughter Period January-June 2023 768,900 2024 771,600 2025 667,500 The reduced meat production has a clear effect on the prices for calves. The observed prices for veal have fluctuated, according to figures from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, between €6.60 and €7.00 per kilo of carcass weight excluding VAT. This is almost 25% higher than last year around this time. Cattle slaughter also declinedThe number of slaughtered adult cattle also showed a clear decrease in the first half of the year. Slaughterhouses hung a total of 258,700 cows, heifers, and bulls on the hooks. Last year, there were still 282,600 in the first half of the year. This means the slaughter number decreased by 8.5%. Thus, the declining cattle slaughter also contributes to the tight availability of beef that is currently affecting the market.