Whether chickens, goats or bee colonies: the keeping of farm animals is on the rise in Saxony. At the end of 2023, almost 57,800 livestock farms were registered, according to the new annual report from the animal disease fund. According to the data, this is an increase of more than 1,400 compared to the previous year.
Every owner of cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, fish and bee colonies is obliged to register their animals with the fund and pay contributions. This means that not only commercial farms are covered, but also hobby livestock owners. The contributions are used to pay compensation if animals die or have to be killed due to epidemics, as well as for programs to prevent and monitor animal diseases. For example, for foulbrood in bees or vaccinations against the West Nile virus in horses.
The number of animals in cattle and pigs declined. In 2023, a good 431,200 cattle were registered with the Animal Disease Fund - a drop of around 8,400 animals. The picture is similar for pigs: their numbers recently fell by just under 85,400 to around 488,900, compared to 644,400 in 2021.
