UK June Survey Results

October 22, 2013 12:00 am

DEFRA has published its provisional results from the June Survey of Agriculture and Horticulture for the UK.  The key results for livestock are summarised in the table below.  The final results will be available on 19th December.  As Wales do not release provisional figures therefore the Welsh 2012 results have been used to give a provisional UK-wide 2013 figure.

JUNE CENSUS (LIVESTOCK) – UK

‘000 Head

2011  

2012  

2013

% Change ‘12-‘13

Total Cattle & Calves

9,933

9,900

9,843

-0.6%

Total Breeding Herd

3,489

3,469

3,393

-2.2%

Dairy Herd

1,814

1,812

1,782

-1.6%

Beef Herd

1,675

1,657

1,611

-2.8%

Total Sheep & Lambs

 31,634 32,215 32,317 +0.3%

Breeding Flock

14,868

15,229

15,458

+1.5%

Other Sheep and lambs

16,765

16,985

16,859

-0.7%

Total Pigs

4,441

4,481

4,848

+8.2%

Female Breeding Herd

432

425

416

-2.1%

Source: DEFRA

 

 

 

 

 

The figures show the total number of cattle and calves in the UK fell by 0.6% in 2013 compared to the previous year.  The UK beef breeding herd, rather surprisingly considering the current strong trading conditions, declined further by 2.8% to just over 1.6 million head.   This mirrors the English results which saw the beef breeding herd fall by 3% compared to year earlier levels.  Is this an indication that some producers are ‘cashing-in’ on the higher prices?  The dairy breeding herd saw a smaller decrease in numbers of 1.6%.

Whilst the pig breeding herd experienced a fall in numbers, down to 416,000, total pig numbers increased by 8.2% compared to year earlier levels.  Both sows and gilts in pig recorded a large drop in numbers by 4.1% and 5.0% respectively, meaning any recovery of breeding numbers in the short term looks unlikely.  However gilts intended for first time breeding are up by 4.3% to 85,000.  The increase in total pig numbers is due mainly to fattening pig numbers.  Significantly, all categories of fattening pigs continue to increase, rising by 9.4% compared to last year’s levels, indicating the continued efficiency in the sector as more pigs continue to be produced by less sows.

The sheep sector is the only major livestock sector to show a rise in breeding numbers.  The UK breeding flock increased by 1.5% compared to 2012, although not by as much as the England-only figures which saw a 3.8% increase in the breeding flock.  Ewes intended for first time breeding also show a rise in numbers by 2.5% confirmimg the optimism in the industry.  Lambs under one year are the only sheep categoryto record a fall in numbers reflecting the lower lamb crop in 2013 due to poor weather at tupping and lambing time.

The full statistical release can be found at   https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/251222/structure-jun2013prov-UK-17oct13a.pdf

 

 

Categorised in: