Livestock farming is a strategic part of Europe's food system, economy and rural communities. It provides high-quality food, supports millions of jobs, maintains landscapes, contributes to biodiversity and helps sustain the vitality of rural areas across the European Union.
European livestock products are recognised worldwide for their quality, safety and high production standards, contributing to food security both within Europe and beyond.
Furthermore, Europe's livestock systems are as diverse as its territories. From mountain grazing systems and Mediterranean pastoralism to mixed family farms and specialised production systems, livestock contributes in different ways to food security, territorial cohesion, climate resilience and the European bioeconomy.
Today, the European Commission adopted the Livestock Strategy to ensure Europe's valuable livestock sector remains strong and resilient in the long term.
- 40.00%of EU agricultural added value
- €400.00billionannual turnover
- 7.00millionjobs supported across the value chain
- 4.00millionlivestock farms
- €53.00billionanimal product exports (2025)
- €16.00billionanimal product imports (2025)
Why Europe is acting
The livestock sector is facing profound changes.
Livestock numbers have declined across several sectors since 2005, while farmers continue to face market volatility, climate change, animal diseases and rising production costs. Many farms remain dependent on imported high-protein feed, exposing supply chains to geopolitical and market shocks. At the same time, the sector must meet growing expectations on environmental sustainability and animal welfare while remaining economically viable and attractive for future generations.
Building on the Vision for Agriculture and Food, the EU Livestock Strategy provides a long-term roadmap to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of the sector, valorise the diversity of livestock production systems across Europe and promote European excellence.
The Strategy sets out actions at EU, national and stakeholder level organised around five complementary priorities.
Helping farmers better prepare for and respond to crises while strengthening Europe's food security and strategic autonomy:
- developing a dedicated livestock risk-management financial scheme
- ensuring adequate financing for the prevention, surveillance, control and eradication of animal diseases
- encouraging the adoption of digital technologies to improve animal health and welfare
- supporting investments in climate adaptation, mitigation and innovation
- reducing dependencies on imported inputs by relying more on locally grown feed
- supporting the development of circular bioeconomy
Supporting farmers to remain competitive and creating new opportunities throughout the value chain:
- bridge the financing gap for sustainability and animal welfare investments
- promote European livestock products through agri-food diplomacy and high-level missions
- introduce WTO-compatible reciprocity conditions for imports
- promote higher international production standards
- simplify EU rules to allow for innovative solutions, notably in circular bioeconomy
Helping livestock farming reduce its environmental footprint while remaining economically viable:
- issuing CAP recommendations on environmental sustainability, climate action and animal welfare
- developing a harmonised methodology to measure livestock emissions at EU farm level
- developing an on-farm Sustainability Compass for livestock farmers
- building a Livestock Platform bringing together proven solutions for climate, environment and animal welfare
- proposing targeted revisions of animal welfare legislation
- developing a roadmap for a more efficient and sustainable circulation of nutrients across the EU
Supporting livestock systems that reflect Europe's diverse landscapes, production models and rural communities:
- work with Member States to restore production in regions at risk of land abandonment
- develop a roadmap for improving access to slaughterhouse infrastructure
- support livestock systems that contribute to the vitality of rural and remote areas
- preserve the central role of livestock farming as an economic, social and environmental asset for Europe's territories
Helping producers create value through quality, innovation and consumer confidence:
- providing a framework for optional reserved terms highlighting specific production methods and characteristics
- raising awareness to the quality, sustainability and diversity of European livestock products
- supporting consumer trust and market differentiation
- encouraging labelling and clear EU origin
Looking ahead
The EU Livestock Strategy provides a long-term framework to strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and sustainability of Europe's livestock sector, valorise the diversity of production systems across the Union and showcase European excellence.
Its implementation will require coordinated action by the European Commission, Member States and stakeholders across the livestock value chain, building on innovation, investment and collaboration.
The EU Livestock Strategy aims to ensure that livestock farming continues to be a cornerstone of Europe's agriculture, food security and rural communities, while contributing to a stronger, more resilient and more sustainable European Union.
A stronger European protein system
Alongside the EU Livestock Strategy, the Commission is introducing a Protein Action Plan to strengthen the resilience, sustainability and strategic autonomy of the EU protein system.
Greater production of oilseeds and protein crops in Europe will reduce strategic dependencies, strengthen food security and create new opportunities for European farmers, while supporting a more resilient livestock sector.
Documents
The analytical brief complements the livestock strategy and the related Staff Working Document with information on the bovine sector and grass-based ruminant farms.
