Drought drives down cattle prices in Burgenland

Drought is forcing cattle farmers to reduce their herds, while the resulting increase in animals sent for slaughter is driving down meat prices, ORF reported. Farmers in both mountainous areas and the lowlands are struggling with feed shortages.

Franz Grötschl runs an arable and dairy farm with his wife, Marita, in Lackendorf in the Oberpullendorf district. The farm produces feed for its cows, but the drought has severely reduced this year’s harvest.

“We basically have to harvest three times as much this year, and even that is actually not enough,” Grötschl said.

The couple have already sold their first cows because of the feed shortage. “We have already handed over a truckload,” Grötschl said. “We will probably have to do that once more so that we can somehow get through the year with the amount of feed.”

As more farmers are forced to sell their animals, Grötschl expects slaughter-meat prices to fall further in the coming months. Many farmers will probably have to sell their cattle around Christmas or New Year, he said, adding that he had chosen to act earlier to get through the year.

Milk prices are also currently low. Less high-quality feed reduces the cows’ milk production, while the price of milk is under pressure because of an alleged oversupply, Grötschl said.