More Milk from Fewer Cows: Austria's Dairy Market 2025 at a Glance

Background: Stock Declines, Performance Rises

In addition to cow's milk, Statistik Austria also turns its attention to smaller segments: Sheep milk production rose by 2.3 percent in 2025 to 11,600 tonnes. The organic share of sheep milk reached 56.9 percent and is thus well above average. However, the number of dairy sheep kept fell at the same time by 1.9 percent to 26,800 animals, meaning that performance per individual animal must also have risen here.

The picture for goat milk is slightly different: Production declined by 0.4 percent in 2025, even though yield per goat rose. The reason was herd reduction: The number of dairy goats in Austria fell by 1.4 percent to around 39,700 animals. The opposing development of stock and individual animal performance thus characterizes both the sheep and the goat milk sectors.

Sheep and Goat Milk: Small but Growing

Overall, the data paint a picture of a market that is consolidating: fewer animals, higher performance, slightly growing total production. The high organic share of sheep milk also points to the growing importance of regional and organic products. How stock and performance develop in the coming years depends, according to industry observers, primarily on the economic situation of farms and on consumer demand.

Statistik Austria annually evaluates the data on domestic milk production, thereby providing the basis for agricultural policy decisions and industry analyses. The current figures confirm the trend of recent years toward fewer but more productive animals in Austria's dairy sector. Changes in subsidy programs or consumer habits could additionally influence development in the coming years.

Organic and Regionality as Drivers

The organic segment also remains an important part of the market. While the organic share of sheep milk is particularly high at 56.9 percent, the organic share of cow's milk in Austria is likewise well above the EU average. Demand for organic products has grown continuously in recent years, which is reflected in the structure of domestic production.