Livestock husbandry, 1 January 2005, preliminary figures

The decline in the number of livestock farmers from 2004 to 2005 comprises all kinds of domestic animals. The number of holdings keeping laying hens dropped by 6 per cent, while the number of holdings keeping sheep fell by 5 per cent.

In the beginning of 2005 a total of 943 700 cattle were registered, an increase of 1 600 from 2004. The number of milking cows dropped by 5 000 to 275 200, while the number of beef cows increased by 1 900 to 50 300.

The number of breeding pigs was 99 200 in 2005, about the same as the year before. The number of pigs for slaughtering increased from 1.32 million in 2004 to 1.44 million in 2005, creating a situation of surplus production of pork meat.

The number of breeding sheep has varied between 1.09 and 1.12 million the last 5 years. In the beginning of 2005, 1.09 million sheep for breeding were registered.

Larger herds

The average holding with dairy cows had 17 dairy cows in 2005, being two more than in 2000. The average holding with breeding pigs has grown faster: from 32 breeding pigs in 2000 to 44 in 2005. An average size holding with sheep had 64 sheep in 2005 - 12 more than in 2000.

Tables:

• Table 1 Holdings keeping domestic animals of various kinds as per 1 January, by county
• Table 2 Cattle and sheep. No of heads as per 1 January, by county
• Table 3 Various domestic animals. No of heads as per 1 January, by county
• Table 4 Holdings with various kinds of domestic animals, by size of herd. As per 1 January