According to the National Bureau of Statistics of RM, in the first quarter of 2026, meat production (live weight) in farms of all categories in the country amounted to 355.3 thousand tons, i.e. increased by 13.8%. Among them, the increase in the production of this product in agricultural enterprises reached 23.5% (with 274,4 thousand tons), while in households continued to decline – minus 10% (80,9 thousand tons).
Milk production in January-March of the current year in comparison with last year’s level of the same period has not changed – 518.7 thousand tons. The main share of this product is still produced in household farms (352.2 thousand tons), but the contribution of this sector to the “common piggy bank” continues to decline – minus 8.1%. Whereas the share of industrial farms continues to grow – 166.5 thousand tons (+26.7%).
Egg production in the indicated period of the current year (113.4 million pieces) slightly decreased (-0.3%). The decrease was caused by a more significant (-4.9%) reduction of this product in household farms (29.4 million pieces). However, it was compensated by an increase (1.4%) in egg production at industrial poultry farms (84 million pieces).
More meat – less livestock
There is a curious correlation between the production of livestock products and the number of animals in the country. Usually the growth of meat production (especially beef) is accompanied by a decrease in the number of livestock. Apparently, in the spirit of such correlation, the number of cattle in the country as of April 1 (94.1 thousand heads) decreased by 3.6%. Including dairy cows (57 thousand) in Moldova became less by 7.2%.
The number of pigs (327,7 thousand) on the mentioned date increased by 10,7%. It is important to note that the increase (21,5%) was provided by industrial pig farms (223 thousand). Whereas in households there were fewer pigs by 7% (104.7%). It should be taken into account that in the pork sector in the first quarter of this year the dynamics is measured against a low comparable base. In April last year, the industrial pig breeding in Moldova already lost a third of the pig population due to their forced slaughter – in connection with the detection of African swine fever on the two largest pig farms in the country. The sector has not yet recovered from this blow a year later.
The only sector with a statistically significant increase in the number of pigs is the Moldovan industrial poultry sector: plus 51.2% (8233 thousand heads).
