Andorra Livestock Recovers Slightly to 4,635 Heads in 2023

Andorra's livestock population has seen a modest recovery, reaching 4,635 head in 2023, up from 4,564 the previous year but still below the 4,959 recorded in 2020, according to figures from the Statistics Department.

The overall trend from 2020 to 2023 reflects a sustained decline followed by slight stabilisation. Cattle numbers continued to fall, dropping to 1,429 head in 2023 from 1,502 in 2020, driven mainly by a reduction in cows from 1,440 to 1,359. Bulls showed a minor overall increase. Sant Julià de Lòria hosts the largest cow population at 536 head, followed by Canillo with 240 and Encamp with 219.

Sheep, which form the bulk of the livestock, also declined over the period but rebounded partially to 2,248 head last year. Parish-level data reveal sharp contrasts: Canillo's flock surged from 443 to 971 in one year, while Sant Julià de Lòria saw numbers halve from 894 to 417 since 2020, and Encamp dropped from 701 to 573.

Equines posted the strongest gains, rising steadily to 590 head in 2023, boosted by more mares. Encamp led the growth with its count climbing from 32 to 72, alongside steady increases in Ordino and Sant Julià de Lòria.

Goats displayed mixed results, peaking in 2022 before easing to 368 head in 2023. La Massana stood out with a rise from 23 to 61, though Encamp and Ordino recorded decreases.

Smaller categories like pigs and kids remained largely stable with minor parish variations. Encamp's pigs rose from 4 to 20, while Sant Julià de Lòria's fell from 27 to 16.