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- The physical and financial scale of EU livestock production means that it has far-reaching environmental, economic and social consequences. Livestock production is an important part of the economy in many regions including some marginal rural areas. The livestock sector contributes substantially to the European economy. In 2017, the value of livestock production and livestock products in the EU-28 was equal to 170 billion euros, representing 40% of the total agricultural turnover. The EU-28 is a net exporter on the world market and the international trade surplus in livestock commodities has steadily increased since 2000, reaching 3.7 billion euros in 2019. - Livestock is present in almost all regions of the European Union and its social importance extends beyond employment; many of the valued landscapes and cuisines of the EU have evolved along with livestock production. - General conclusions about livestock need to be drawn with care. Many of the contributions of livestock farming depend on the farming systems implemented and the territories in which they operate. Environmental impacts can be significant in areas of intensive farming, whereas in marginal zones maintaining livestock farming is a challenge for the conservation of many heritage ecosystems of high ecological value. In territories of mixed farming, environmental benefits depend on the extent to which crops and animals are integrated.
