Results of the Agricultural Census 2020
(edition 2022)

Keeping of farm animals and manure management practices

 

Foto by Pixabay.com


During the 2020 Census, data on livestock and manure management practices (from 1 June 2019 to 31 May 2020) were collected. Data were provided by farmers’ and family farms, agricultural companies and enterprises. They indicated the following information: manure application techniques, the manure storage facilities used, and the livestock housing systems in place.

In 2020, compared to 2016, the number of farms applying manure on agricultural land with the different manure application techniques decreased. Most farms – 41.7 thousand (in 2016, 67.4 thousand) – used broadcast technique, 3.1 thousand (in 2016, 5.7 thousand) – bandspread technique, and 0.8 thousand (in 2016, 1.3 thousand) – injection technique.

 

Manure application techniques
Number of farms, thous.

Created with Highcharts 6.1.467.467.45.75.71.31.341.741.73.13.10.80.820162020BroadcastBandspreadInjection01530456075

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Nuotr. iš Pixabay.com


In 2020, as in 2016, the most popular technique was broadcast, when manure is incorporated into the soil within 4 hours after application or 4 hours after the application. In 2020, broadcast was mostly applied in farms with the utilised agricultural land of 5–10 ha (in 2016, farms with the utilised agricultural land of 2–5 ha). The least used technique was injection, when manure or slurry is injected in slots cut into the soil.

 

Manure application techniques on farms of different sizes, 2020
Number of farms, units

Created with Highcharts 6.1.4Farm groups by area of utilised agricultural land, ha1,6071,6077,4217,42112,22412,2249,5219,5213,6043,6042,8302,8302,6262,6261,9061,90623231791795955956696693103103563565115114364361818616112312316716759598181114114140140BroadcastBandspreadInjection0–2‬2–5‬5–10‬10–20‬20–30‬30–50‬50–100‬‬≤ 10002,0004,0006,0008,00010,00012,00014,000

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Farms using manure application techniques by farm category

 

Farms of all types

Farmers' and family farms

Agricultural companies and enterprises

2016

2020

2016

2020

2016

2020

All manure application techniques

71,880

43,586

71,659

43,435

221

151

Broadcast

67,433

41,739

67,249

41,603

184

136

Broadcast, when manure is not incorporated into soil

5,537

3,224

5,506

3,209

31

15

Broadcast, when manure is incorporated into the soil within 4 hours after application

36,323

31,758

36,226

31,671

97

87

Broadcast, whenmanure is incorporated into the soil later than 4 hours after the application

28,445

8,621

28,354

8,561

91

60

Bandspread

5,725

3,079

5,647

3,016

78

63

Bandspread, when manure is applied using a band spreader with trailing hoses

730

841

685

810

45

31

Bandspread, when manure is applied using a band spreader with trailing shoes

5,124

2,257

5,082

2,217

42

40

Injection

1,316

763

1,308

748

8

15

Injection, when shallow (4–6 cm deep) slots are left open after application

637

529

633

521

4

8

Injection, when deep (12–30 cm deep) slots are closed after application

707

261

702

252

5

9


The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

 

Foto by Pixabay.com


In 2020, most of the farms (34.6 thousand) stored manure in open piles or in an open place, which accounts for 60 per cent of all farms using manure storage facilities.

 

Number of holdings using manure storage facilities, 2020

 

Percentage of manure stored in actual manure facility

Total

Less than 25

25–50

50–75

75–100

100

Manure solid storage in heaps

34,607

81

168

1,667

591

32,100

Manure stored in compost piles

6,897

29

78

454

41

6,295

Manure stored in pits below animal confinement

1,392

48

44

165

6

1,129

Manure stored in deep litter systems

4,948

101

114

515

47

4,171

Liquid manure/slurry storage without cover

860

62

93

255

18

432

Liquid manure/slurry storage with permeable cover

505

55

22

187

6

235

Liquid manure/slurry storage with impermeable cover

1,590

389

242

375

34

550

Manure stored in other facilities n.e.c.

3,500

38

34

365

17

3,046

Daily spread

3,605

49

( )

71

5

3,464

––––––––––––––
( ) insufficient accuracy of statistical estimate

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Foto by Pixabay.com


According to the 2020 Census data, most farms (92 per cent) keep dairy cows tied in stables with manure or slurry removal. In such stables, 216.8 thousand places were equipped, which accounts for 70 per cent of the total number of places for keeping dairy cows. A significantly smaller share of farms (7 per cent) keeps dairy cows loose in stables with manure or slurry removal. In such stables, 94 thousand places were equipped, which accounts for 30 per cent of the total number of places for keeping dairy cows. In other types of premises with manure or slurry handling, 2.4 thousand places were installed which is below 1 per cent of all places intended for keeping dairy cows.

 

Distribution of the number of holdings and places in dairy cow keeping systems, 2020

Number of farms using keeping system for dairy cows, units

Number of places for dairy cows, units

Created with Highcharts 6.1.477.0%77.0%15.4%15.4%4.9%4.9%1.9%1.9%0.7%0.7%0.1%0.1%Dairy cows in tied stalls (slurry)Dairy cows in tied stalls (solid manure)Dairy cows in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)Dairy cows in loose/cubicle housing (solid manure)Dairy cows in other types of housing (slurry)Dairy cows in other types of housing (solid manure)

 

Created with Highcharts 6.1.449.7%49.7%19.5%19.5%13.1%13.1%16.9%16.9%0.5%0.5%0.3%0.3%Dairy cows in tied stalls (slurry)Dairy cows in tied stalls (solid manure)Dairy cows in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)Dairy cows in loose/cubicle housing (solid manure)Dairy cows in other types of housing (slurry)Dairy cows in other types of housing (solid manure)

 

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

According to the 2020 Census data, most farms (79 per cent) keep other cattle tied in stables with manure or slurry removal. In such stables, 255.9 thousand places were equipped, which accounts for 47 per cent of the total number of places for keeping other cattle. A significantly smaller share of farms (16 per cent) keeps other cattle loose in stables with manure or slurry removal. In such stables, 232.4 thousand places were equipped, which accounts for 43 per cent of the total number of places for keeping other cattle. 6 per cent of farms keep other cattle outdoors, there are 32.8 thousand other cattle grazing (accounting for 6 per cent of places for keeping other cattle). In other types of premises with manure or slurry handling, 26.8 thousand places were installed, which makes up 4 per cent of all places intended for keeping other cattle.

 

Distribution of the number of holdings and places in other livestock keeping systems, 2020

Number of farms using keeping system for cattle, units

Number of places for cattle, units

Created with Highcharts 6.1.412.7%12.7%66.6%66.6%3.0%3.0%12.9%12.9%0.2%0.2%1.7%1.7%2.9%2.9%Livestock in tied stalls (slurry)Livestock in tied stalls (solid manure)Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (solid manure)Livestock in other types of housing (slurry)Livestock in other types of housing (solid manure)Livestock always outdoors

 

Created with Highcharts 6.1.412.3%12.3%34.4%34.4%11.3%11.3%31.1%31.1%0.5%0.5%4.4%4.4%6.0%6.0%Livestock in tied stalls (slurry)Livestock in tied stalls (solid manure)Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (solid manure)Livestock in other types of housing (slurry)Livestock in other types of housing (solid manure)Livestock always outdoors

 

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Keeping systems for dairy cows by groups of number of dairy cows, 2020

 

Number of farms, units

Livestock in tied stalls (slurry)

Livestock in tied stalls (solid manure)

Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)

Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (solid manure)

Livestock in other types of housing (slurry)

Livestock in other types of housing (solid manure)

Total

4,389

21,936

532

1,399

32

190

1–2

1,861

13,137

169

773

( )

117

3–9

1,295

6,486

77

236

5

54

10–19

528

1,255

50

85

4

10

20–29

284

460

23

64

3

3

30–49

235

349

38

73

-

50–99

143

170

71

74

4

100–199

28

48

48

49

-

200–299

7

14

9

10

300–499

5

8

12

12

-

-

More than 500

3

9

35

23

-

––––––––––––––
Explanation of special symbols:

( ) insufficient accuracy of statistical estimate
• confidential data
- category not applicable

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

Keeping systems for other livestock by groups of number of other livestocks, 2020

 

Number of farms, units

Livestock in tied stalls (slurry)

Livestock in tied stalls
(solid manure)

Livestock in loose/cubicle housing (slurry)

Livestock in loose/cubicle housing
(solid manure)

Livestock in other types of housing (slurry)

Livestock in other types of housing
(solid manure)

Livestock always outdoors

Total

3,860

20,173

20,173

3,895

72

502

869

1–2

1,364

9,482

9,482

814

( )

75

76

3–9

1,259

7,479

7,479

962

( )

93

190

10–19

519

1,822

1,822

588

15

88

190

20–29

245

558

558

383

4

69

117

30–49

258

434

434

419

6

53

131

50–99

150

268

268

404

9

75

115

100–199

52

95

95

200

29

41

200–299

16

16

55

-

10

4

300–499

6

11

11

31

-

3

More than 500

8

8

39

7

––––––––––––––
Explanation of special symbols:

( ) insufficient accuracy of statistical estimate
• confidential data
- category not applicable

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

According to the 2020 Census, most farms (88 per cent) keep breeding sows on solid floor (excluding deep litter) or in house where entire surface is covered with deep litter, but such places for breeding sows account for only 10 per cent of all places intended for sow keeping. 16 per cent of farms keep breeding sows on fully slatted or partially slatted floors, but such pig houses have 35.7 thousand places, which makes up 88 per cent of all places where breeding sows are kept.

 

Distribution of the number of holdings and places in breeding sows keeping systems, 2020

Number of farms using keeping sistem for pigs, units

Number of places for pigs, units

Created with Highcharts 6.1.410.3%10.3%5.4%5.4%51.7%51.7%31.2%31.2%1.4%1.4%Pigs in fully slatted floorPigs in partially slatted floorPigs in solid floor housing (excluding deep litter)Pigs where entire surface is deep litterIn other types of housing

 

Created with Highcharts 6.1.423.2%23.2%65.1%65.1%7.0%7.0%3.1%3.1%1.6%1.6%Pigs in fully slatted floorPigs in partially slatted floorPigs in solid floor housing (excluding deep litter)Pigs where entire surface is deep litterIn other types of housing

 

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

In 2020, most farms (88 per cent) keep other pigs on solid floor (excluding deep litter) or in house where entire surface is covered with deep litter, but places for keeping breeding sows in such conditions accounts for only 15 per cent of all places for keeping other sows. 11 per cent of farms keep breeding sows on fully slatted or partially slatted floors, but such pig houses have 300.7 thousand places, which makes up 88 per cent of all places for keeping other pigs.

 

Distribution of the number of holdings and places in other pigs keeping systems, 2020

Number of farms using keeping sistem for pigs, units

Number of places for pigs, units

Created with Highcharts 6.1.47.1%7.1%3.8%3.8%58.4%58.4%29.2%29.2%1.5%1.5%Pigs in fully slatted floorPigs in partially slatted floorPigs in solid floor housing (excluding deep litter)Pigs where entire surface is deep litterIn other types of housing

 

Created with Highcharts 6.1.434,0 %34,0 %49,5 %49,5 %11,8 %11,8 %3,3 %3,3 %1,5 %1,5 %Pigs in fully slatted floorPigs in partially slatted floorPigs in solid floor housing (excluding deep litter)Pigs where entire surface is deep litterIn other types of housing

 

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators

 

It has been established that laying hens are kept in battery cages mostly on large poultry farms. There are 1 million 281.2 thousand places (33 per cent of all places for keeping laying hens) equipped on such farms. The lowest number of places (491.2 thousand) are equipped on farms where laying hens are kept outdoors or in other types of premises. The largest number of farms (16.3 thousand) indicated that they were keeping hens on the deep litter and had 1 million 510.9 thousand places equipped.

 

Keeping systems for laying hens, 2020

Created with Highcharts 6.1.4Deep litter housing39%Deep litter housing39%Cages with manure belts31%Cages with manure belts31%Aviary house (without litter)16%Aviary house (without litter)16%Outdoors (free range)6%Outdoors (free range)6%Other types of housing6%Other types of housing6%Cages with stilt house1%Cages with stilt house1%Cages with deep pits1%Cages with deep pits1%

The latest and detailed data are available in the Database of Indicators