Value of reared animals

ECONOMIC VALUE

In recent years, the producer prices of animal products have generally been in rise. Strongest the rise has been in the producer prices of eggs and mutton. Beef and mutton have the highest producer price. In 2013 the producer price of mutton was 329 €/100kg, beef 311 €/100kg, pork 174 €/100kg, poultry 154 €/100kg, eggs 117 €/100kg and milk 43 cent/litre.

SOCIAL VALUE

Social value of animal husbandry arises from the employment effect of rearing animals. In total, agriculture employed 125 288 people full and part-time in 2010. Most of the employees are farmers themselves (about 46%), their spouses (22%) or other family members (17%). In addition to the previous, there are about 3 000 permanent employees equaling about 2% of the total workforce in farms. Other employees have temporary and often seasonal contracts.

In 2012, there were 9 781 farms in milk production, 3 540 farms in other cattle husbandry, 1 712 farms in pig husbandry, 1 796 farms in horse husbandry, 522 farms in poultry husbandry, and 685 farms in sheep and goat husbandry. The number of farms in milk production, pig husbandry and poultry husbandry has decreased by more than 50% since the year 2000. The number of other animal farms has decreased also but not that steeply.

HEALTH VALUE

Health value of animal husbandry arises from the safe use of animal products and the lack of animal-based diseases. In Finland, as well as globally, the avian and swine influenzas have caused serious health risks in the past years. The extensive use of antibiotics for reared animals cause problems because the bacteria gain immunity towards medication. In Finland, the antibiotics that are critical for healing serious infections in humans are forbidden in animal health care.

INTRINSIC VALUE

Not identified.