Livestock husbandry, 31 December 2001, preliminary figures

The decline in the number of livestock farmers comprises all kinds of domestic animals except holders keeping beef cows. Holdings with laying hens went down by 13 per cent from the previous year, while the number of holdings with dairy cows as well as with dairy goats dropped by between 8 and 9 per cent.

12 500 fewer dairy cows

The decline in number of holdings keeping various domestic animals also lead to a decline in the total number of animals. The exception is the number of beef cows, pigs for slaughtering and sheep. The number of dairy cows dropped by 12 500 to 286 200, while the number of beef cows increased by 6 700 to 46 800. The number of dairy goats dropped by 3 400 to 47 400.

Larger herds

The average holding with dairy cows had 15.3 dairy cows in 2001, while the corresponding figure for 1998 was 13.8. The average holding with breeding pigs had 34 breeding pigs in 2001. The corresponding figure for 1998 was 24. Almost 45 per cent of the herds had 30 breeding pigs or more in 2001, while only 30 per cent of the herds were of the same size in 1998.

Tables:

• Table 1 Holdings keeping domestic animals of various kinds, 31 December 2001*, by county
• Table 2 Cattle and sheep per 31 December, by county
• Table 3 Domestic animals per 31 December, by county
• Table 4 Holdings with various kinds of domestic animals, by size of herd. 31 December