Sheep and goat farming in Austria

Due to the extensive cultivation of grassland, not only in the alpine regions, sheep and goat farming is becoming increasingly important in Austria, especially as a sideline.

The stocks of the animal species are rising continuously, with around 401,000 sheep and 99,000 goats currently (as at 1 December 2022) being kept by around 26,000 farms for milk and meat production.

The processing and marketing of the raw materials milk and meat takes place both in larger dairies and meat-processing companies and in the form of direct marketing.

In comparison to cattle and pig farming, different breeds are used in sheep and goat farming depending on the intended use and location.

Source: Statistics Austria, General livestock survey 01/12/2022.