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Summary
The global market for goat dairy products has been growing consistently since 2020, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2023 to 2030. As of 2022, the market size was estimated at $12.45 billion and expected to reach a value of $17.95 billion by 2030. The increase in lactose intolerance, technological developments, and goat milk's health benefits are driving this growth. Asia-Pacific leads the market share, with 52.7% of global revenue in 2022, where India alone accounts for around 25% of global goat milk production. The global sheep and goat livestock numbers depict a growing trend generally, with a mild decline in goat numbers in 2021, while sheep numbers continue to increase. India, China, Pakistan, and Nigeria are the notable players in goat livestock, while the highest sheep livestock numbers are in China, followed by India and Australia. Italy, predominantly an importer in sheep and goat meat, has shown increasing exports since 2020, despite a declining trend in its sheep and goat populations — with about 7.2 million livestock, including just over 1 million goats and approximately 6.15 million sheep.
Shifting Patterns and Seasonal Trends in Italian Sheep and Goat Meat Consumption
In Italy, the demand for sheep and goat meat is marked by significant seasonality, with consumption peaks typically coinciding with the Christmas and Easter holidays. Despite the festive uptick, these meats only account for a modest slice—just 2%—of the total fresh meat purchased by Italian households. Recent years have seen a downward trajectory in consumption, with a stark 25% volume and 17% spending decrease in 2022 alone. This trend aligns with the previous half-decade's consumption patterns. Nevertheless, the average consumer prices have seen an uptick of around 10.7% in 2022, indicative of a gradual absorption of rocketing production costs driven by a volatile market. The average monthly expenditure on sheep and goat meat has experienced fluctuations, with a significant drop around 2020 likely due to the onset of the pandemic.
However, a rebound was observed in 2021 with spending rising, although not reaching pre-pandemic heights. This shift points to an evolving consumer spending pattern that remains sensitive to external economic shocks. Regionally, the highest average expenditure on sheep and goat meat is in the South and Islands, averaging around €3.53 per household, followed by the Center with approximately €2.3. The North trails with the average expenditure lingering at around €1.41. These figures echo the production focus in Italy, notably in regions such as Sardinia, which contributes to around 45% of the national sheep herd, and Sicily with around 11%. The demand for sheep and goat meat in Italy reflects the critical role of traditional preferences and consumption habits while contending with broader economic and societal changes that influence purchasing power and dietary choices. Such trends underline the sector's need to adapt and respond to evolving market dynamics.
Leading Companies in Italy's Sheep and Goat Farming Sector
Italy's sheep and goat farming market is known for its high-quality dairy and meat products, with various key players making significant contributions to the industry. Below we explore some of the renowned companies that stand out for their production excellence, innovation, and dedication to sustainable and ethical farming practices.
- Società Cooperativa Agricola Produttori Latte Maielletta Maielletta is a cooperative dairy that prides itself on producing dairy products using milk sourced exclusively from Abruzzo’s farms. Its product range includes traditional Italian cheeses such as caciocavallo, fior di latte mozzarella, ricotta, and caciotta. The cooperative is committed to maintaining high standards of quality and authenticity, which is reflected in the taste and richness of their dairy products.
- Il Carro S.R.L Il Carro is an integrated farming operation located in Putignano, Bari. At its heart, the company specializes in goat breeding with a focus on milk production, which is then processed to create various cheeses. Their farm includes a dedicated area for livestock, a processing plant, and a retail outlet where customers can buy and savor their extensive range of products. The company exemplifies the farm-to-table concept and is a testament to the importance of traceability in food production.
- Carmasciando Società Agricola S.R.L Founded in 2016, Carmasciando operates from a farmhouse restored to its former glory, set 749 meters above sea level. The altitude and terrain of the location ensure ideal conditions for animal welfare and premium dairy production. The company oversees the entire supply chain from breeding to production, and aging of raw milk cheese, ensuring consistent quality and truly artisanal products.
- Società Agricola Bagaggera S.R.L Located within the Montevecchia and Curone Valley Regional Park, Bagaggera is a farm that encompasses 22 hectares and focuses primarily on breeding chamois goats. The milk obtained from their goats is transformed into a variety of cheeses, yogurts, and puddings, reflecting the company's commitment to producing fresh and seasonal items. Customers can purchase their products directly from the farm’s shop, enjoying the rich flavors that come from such a pristine environment.
These companies illustrate the diversity and depth of Italy's sheep and goat farming industry, showcasing how traditional methods can merge with modern business models to cater to both local and international markets.
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Inforamtion
- Number of pages : 30 pages
- Format : Digital and PDF versions
- Last update : 23/11/2023
Summary and extracts
1 Synthèse du marché
1.1 Introduction
The sheep and goat farming market in Italy includes the industry involved in the production of meat, milk and other products derived from sheep and goats. The products of this industry can be divided into:
- Meat: Raising sheep and goats for the production of lamb and goat meat.
- Dairy products: Production of sheep and goat milk, sheep and goat cheese.
- Wool: Harvesting wool from sheep for fabric and yarn production.
Goat farming in Italy has experienced ups and downs throughout history, with moments of appreciation and decline by farmers and consumers. During Roman times, goats were highly valued, but later attention shifted to sheep because of the economic value of wool. After the fall of the Roman Empire, goat breeding declined and suffered further difficulties during the medieval period and the Fascist two decades. In the1970s, goat breeding experienced a sharp decline, but later recovered due to its adaptive potential and the selection of specialized breeds.[Santanna]
In Italy, sheep have become more widespread in southern and island regions (about 20 percent and 53 percent, respectively) because, they are able to maximize production even in adverse soil and climatic conditions. The largest number of sheep raised is held by Sardinia (3,301,837), with Sicily (906,069), Latium (743,823) and Tuscany (422,734) following.[Ruminantia]
The global market for goat milk dairy products is expected to reach a value of $17 .95 billion by 2030 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 4.7 percent from 2023 to 2030.[Grandviewresearch]
This study focuses on the sheep and goat farming market in Italy. For information on related markets, such as cattle or pig farming, see the specific studies available in the Businesscoot catalog.
1.2 The global market
Goat dairy products market
The size of the global goat dairy products market was estimated at $**.** billion in **** and is expected to grow at a compound annual rate(***) of *.* percent from **** to ****.
The growth appears to be driven by the increase in the lactose-intolerant and child population, increasing focus on health, ...
1.3 The Italian market
According to census data from the National Livestock Registry as of Dec. **, ****, there were about *.* million livestock in the country, of which just over * million were goats and about *.** million were sheep.
In the case of both sheep and goats, there is a decreasing trend, which is more pronounced in the ...
1.4 Import-Export
In order to analyze trade related to the sheep and goat farming sector, we first consider the import-export of sheep and goat meat, and then refer to the foreign marketing of live livestock.
Sheep and goat meat
Regarding the Import-Export of sheep and goat meat, reference is made to HS code ...
1.5 The impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict
The outbreak of war in Ukraine has severely impacted Italian dairy farms: in the first half of **** there was a ***% increase in production costs compared to ****. The estimated national average farm impact is €**,***, while for dairy farms it has risen as high as €**,***. These increases are related to the exceptional increase ...
2 Analyse de la demande
2.1 Demand in Italy
Domestic consumption of sheep and goat meat is still strongly influenced by a seasonality concentrated at two times of the year coinciding with the Christmas and Easter holidays and continues to represent a niche in relation to the overall basket of total fresh meat purchased by Italian households, with a share ...
2.2 Demand drivers
Sheep meat properties and benefits
Sheep meat contains a good amount of iron, protein essential for the transport of oxygen to organs and tissues, potassium on the other hand to enable the functioning of muscles, heart and for the transmission of nerve impulses.
In addition to the high amount of vitamins, ...
2.3 The geographical distribution of demand
Regarding the regional distribution of expenditure on sheep and goat meat, the highest values are concentrated in the South and Islands with an average expenditure per household of €*.**, followed by the Center, with an average expenditure of €*.*, and finally, with the lowest values there is the North with a value of ...
2.4 New trends in demand
Cultured meat
Nationally, a bill has been passed banning the production and sale of synthetic meat and the use of meat-related names for products consisting of plant foods. However, the Italian direction is highly criticized and not in line with the rest of Europe. In addition to a question of conflict ...
3 Structure du marché
3.1 The market structure
The sheep and goat supply chain is characterized by thehigh number of operators in the agricultural phase and by a structural dynamic oriented toward a steady decrease in the number of farms due to the gradual abandonment of the activity by smaller and less competitive farms , confirmed again in **** (***). In detail, ...
3.2 The value chain
The following are the main processes that generate value in sheep and goat breeding activities.
3.3 Distribution
In terms of sales channels for sheep and goat meat, the supermarket remains the main purchasing channel with ** percent of total purchases.
An important share is also accounted for by the traditional sector, which absorbs one-fifth of demand, but by **** appears to have lost more share, with a reduction in purchases ...
3.4 The main actors
The following are the main companies engaged insheep and goat farming, identified through the reference ATECO code **.**.
SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA PRODUTTORI LATTE MAIELLETTA: The Majeletta dairy produces dairy products made from milk sourced from Abbruzese farms. The products are prepared with milk from selected and controlled farms. The offerings include caciocavallo, ...
4 Analyse de l'offre
4.1 Supply analysis
Types of sheep breeds
Sheep breeds are classified according to their attiturine. In fact, there are breeds more suited to milk production, breeds more suited to meat production, and breeds that can have both production characteristics. In Italy, about ** percent of sheep herds are for milk production, while those whose sole ...
4.2 The prices
In **** the average consumer price was +**.* percent overall, with large fluctuations throughout the year that gradually incorporated the generalized increase in production costs.
In Q* ****, the push on prices eased, partly as a result of increased foreign product pressure, and volumes released in the retail channel in the pre-Easter period were ...
4.3 New supply trends
Climate crisis and livestock farming
The climate crisis is putting Italian agro-livestock systems to the test in ways that depend mainly on their level of intensification and forage systems, with differences affecting irrigated lowland areas and hilly and mountainous areas, with the loss in both cases of the integration of horticultural ...
5 Règlementation
5.1 The legislation
National Scope
In our country, the protection of farmed animals is enshrined in Legislative Decree *** of **** implementing Directive **/**/EC.
The national legislative background has made it possible to take an important ethico-cultural step forward, since the obligation to provide animals raised for the production of foodstuffs, wool, hides, furs or other ...
6 Positionnement des acteurs
6.1 Segmentation
- SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA PRODUTTORI LATTE MAIELLETTA
- IL CARRO S.R.L
- CARMASCIANDO SOCIETA' AGRICOLA S.R.L
- SOCIETA' AGRICOLA BAGAGGERA S.R.L
- CEREAL LATTE KR - SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA AGRICOLA
- CAMPIDANO AGROZOOTECNICA SOCIETA' AGRICOLA A R.L.
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