UK Livestock Populations March 21, 2014 12:00 am The results from the December Survey of Agriculture for the UK and each of the devolved regions have now been published. The table below shows a summary of the UK results. The full results can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/farming-statistics-livestock-populations-at-1-december-2013-uk DECEMBER SURVEY OF AGRICULTURE – UK ‘000 Head Dec 2010 Dec 2011 Dec 2012 Dec 2013 % Change 12-13 CATTLE Dairy Breeding Herd 1,832 1,783 1,786 1,817 +1.7% Beef Breeding Herd 1,649 1,630 1,603 1,554 -3.0% SHEEP Total Breeding Flock ¹ 13,843 14,199 14,278 14,849 +4.0% PIGS Total Breeding Pigs 508 499 509 497 -2.4% Source: DEFRA ¹ The collection of sheep data has been changed. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland data is collected on the Sheep and Goat (SAG) Inventory. Scotland the December Survey data is used. The results from the Survey shows growth the dairy breeding herd after falling for many years; this is likely due to the increased confidence in the sector from better milk prices. This upward trend looks set to continue as dairy cattle between 1 and 2 years have also increased, by 2.1%. Beef breeding herd numbers have fallen yet again, a consistent trend seen over the past decade. The total number of cattle and calves in the UK has dropped slightly from 2012, returning to within 10,000 head numbers seen in 2011. The breeding sheep flock has increased once again by 4.0%. ‘Other sheep and lambs’ numbers are down 10.8% compared to 2012, returning to more ‘normal’ levels; most likely due to a far lower carry-over of lambs than that seen in 2011-12. Following last year’s increase in breeding pigs, the number has fallen by nearly 2.5%. Gilts in pig and gilts interned for first time breeding have also fallen by 11.3% and 9.8% respectively. Fattening pig numbers have increased by 4.8% to nearly 3.9million head.
