Cattle stock in Thailand 2013-2023

In 2023, the cattle stock in Thailand amounted to approximately 9.65 million heads. The number of cattle in the country has been increasing since 2015. 

Rising demand for dairy cow stock and cattle in Thailand

A vital component of the country’s food security is livestock, particularly pigs and poultry. However, in recent times, there has been a consistent increase in demand for dairy cow stock in Thailand due to the growing middle class and the increasing impact of Western cuisine on Thai urban milk product consumption. Additionally, Thailand's goat stock has increased dramatically in the last few years, although the country's pig stock has been volatile, and its broiler stock has only slightly increased.

Beef consumption in Thailand

Thailand is widely recognized for its distinctive cuisine, which has been refined over centuries, and is widely recognized as one of the primary attractions for tourists. In Thai cooking, beef is a common ingredient, especially in well-known dishes like panang nue, guay teow ruea, and pad krapow nue. Thus, beef is a prominent protein in Thai consumers minds. However, not everyone in Thailand consumes beef. Some Thai-Chinese people avoid eating beef because they worship Guanyin, the goddess of mercy, and revere cows as sacred animals, like in Hinduism.