Spain’s sheep and goat meat sector contracts as herds, farms and consumption decline
Spain’s sheep and goat populations fell in 2025, while slaughter and household consumption declined further in 2026. Higher meat prices are supporting revenue, but rising feed costs and changing export markets are putting pressure on farmers and processors.
Spanish herds shrink faster than the EU average
Spain ended 2025 with approximately 12.81 million sheep, down 5% year on year, and 2.21 million goats, down 6%, according to AgroCLM. The contraction was sharper than the EU average, where sheep numbers declined by 1% and goat numbers by 4%. Spain nevertheless retained the EU’s largest sheep population, accounting for 24% of the total, and ranked second in goats with a 22% share.
The country has about 110,000 sheep farms and 70,000 goat farms. Meat production is the principal activity for 66% and 73% of those farms, respectively. The declining animal base therefore raises questions about future livestock availability for slaughterhouses and the continuity of extensive farming in rural areas.
Meat output and domestic demand weaken
Sheep-meat production was broadly stable at 98,751 tonnes in 2025, but goat-meat output dropped 16% to 7,276 tonnes. The adjustment accelerated in sheep during 2026. From January through July, slaughter fell 8% to 3.97 million animals, while meat output declined 6% to 54,018 tonnes. The decrease in goat slaughter was limited to 3%.
Despite lower physical output, the value of sheep and goat meat production reached €1.4466 billion in 2025, up 5%, and represented 5% of the value of Spain’s total livestock production. Stronger prices helped lift value, but they also coincided with persistent weakness in consumption. Spanish households purchased 11,256 tonnes of sheep and goat meat in the first half of 2026, 13% less than a year earlier. Consumption was down 10% over the rolling year.
The decline extends beyond a single reporting period. Household consumption fell 12% in 2025, while out-of-home consumption decreased 10%. Sheep and goat meat accounted for only 3.6% of fresh meat eaten outside the home. Interovic, with the participation of ASAJA, is strengthening promotional initiatives including the “el paquito” campaign to support demand for sheep meat.
Live-animal exports shift away from Morocco
Foreign trade has also changed materially. Spain exported no live animals to Morocco between January and June 2026, compared with 243,000 in the same period of 2025. Algeria became the leading destination with 273,268 animals, up 10%, while shipments to Italy fell 41% and those to France dropped 30%.
Total live-sheep exports declined 37.7% to 443,642 animals during the half-year, while imports increased 38.1%. Meat exports fell 2.5% by volume, but revenue rose 7% to €240 million because of higher prices. France remained the principal destination for Spanish lamb. The combination of lower exports of live animals and rising imports changes procurement conditions for farmers, livestock traders and slaughterhouses.
High lamb prices collide with rising feed costs
In week 35 of 2026, lamb weighing less than 7 kilograms was quoted at €1,523.90 per 100 kilograms of carcass weight. Prices for the 10–13 kilogram and 7–10 kilogram categories were 17.6% and 14% higher year on year. Kid goats weighing 7–9 kilograms traded at €6.99 per kilogram live weight. Spain remained among the EU countries with the highest prices for both light and heavy lamb.
Cost pressure limits the benefit to producers. Feed for fattening lambs cost €302.76 per tonne, 14.17% more than a year earlier and 12.69% above the start of 2026. Policy uncertainty adds another risk. The proposed 2028–2034 EU framework would place the Common Agricultural Policy within national and regional plans. For a sector losing animals and relying substantially on coupled support, the final design of assistance will influence farm viability, processor supply and the availability of domestically produced meat.
