Influence of the Common Agricultural Policy on the livestock number reared. Evidence from selected European regions

Abstract

Over the past 20-30 years European livestock farming and the spatial distribution of livestock across Europe have been largely shaped by reforms of the European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Generally, for the coming years a decrease in livestock numbers is expected in regions that are characterized by high livestock densities. To this regards, most studies examined the influence of CAP changes at a regional level while literature encompassing a broader range of European regions is still scarce. The study aims at assessing the influence of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on farmers’ decision about on-farm numbers of livestock reared. To do this, farmers’ stated intentions are analysed against the event of a CAP abolishment after 2013.