The number of cattle in England has fallen by 2% over the last 12 months, according to results from the Defra June agricultural survey.
The figures show that in June 2021 there were 5.1m cattle in England of which 1.8m were breeding females. Dairy cow numbers fell by 1% to 1.1m with suckler cows falling by 3% to 665,000.
Nearly all groups of cattle showed a decline in numbers, although there is a 4.7% rise in dairy females under 12 months.
ADVERTISEMENT
Total sheep numbers are also down, falling by 3%, to 14.6m head.
Breeding ewe numbers fell by 2% to 5.2m, while the number of breeding ewes intended for culling rose by 14% to 560,000.
The number of lambs under one year old is down 4%. If the trends are replicated across the UK, it suggests the 2021 lamb crop could be the smallest in around 10 years.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The number of cattle in England has fallen by 2% over the last 12 months, according to results from the Defra June agricultural survey.
The figures show that in June 2021 there were 5.1m cattle in England of which 1.8m were breeding females. Dairy cow numbers fell by 1% to 1.1m with suckler cows falling by 3% to 665,000.
Nearly all groups of cattle showed a decline in numbers, although there is a 4.7% rise in dairy females under 12 months.
Total sheep numbers are also down, falling by 3%, to 14.6m head.
Breeding ewe numbers fell by 2% to 5.2m, while the number of breeding ewes intended for culling rose by 14% to 560,000.
The number of lambs under one year old is down 4%. If the trends are replicated across the UK, it suggests the 2021 lamb crop could be the smallest in around 10 years.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS