Livestock husbandry, 1 January 2009, preliminary figures

With the exception of beef cow and poultry, there was a decline in the number of livestock farmers from 2008 to 2009. The number of holdings with dairy cows dropped 8 per cent, while the decline in the number of holdings with dairy goats was 5 per cent. Holdings with pigs went down 4 per cent from the previous year. Holdings with broilers increased by 12 per cent from 2008 to 2009, and holdings with laying hens by 1 per cent.

The number of dairy cows dropped by 13 000 to 249 100 in 2009, while the number of beef cows increased by 3 600 to 58 200. Since 1999, the total number of cattle has been reduced by 143 000 to a total of 876 000 in 2009.

From 2008 to 2009, the number of breeding pigs increased by 3 100 to 100 400, while the number of pigs slaughtered increased by 4 per cent to 1.5 million pigs in 2008.

From 2008 to 2009, the number of broilers slaughtered during the year increased by 18 per cent to 59.6 million.

Larger herds

The average holding with dairy cows had 20 dairy cows in 2009, which is three more than in 2005. The average holding with breeding pigs has grown from 44 breeding pigs in 2005 to 61 in 2009. An average size holding with sheep had 70 sheep in 2009; 6 more than in 2005. The average holding with laying hens has grown faster: from 1 355 laying hens in 2005 to 2000 in 2009.

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