Livestock husbandry, 1 January 2010, preliminary figures

Preliminary figures from those who apply for agricultural production subsidies show an increase in the number of sheep, beef cows and laying hens. The number of sheep increased by 2 per cent to 1.05 million, and the number of beef cows by 6 per cent to 61 300. The number of laying hens increased by 169 000 to a total of 4 million in 2010.

Fewer dairy cows and broilers

The number of dairy cows dropped by 4 800 to 244 700 from 2009 to 2010. The number of other cattle was reduced by 9 200 to 560 000 in 2010. The number of dairy goats was slightly reduced to a total of 37 100.

From 2009 to 2010, the number of broilers slaughtered during the year decreased by 6 per cent to 56 million.

Fewer livestock producers

From 2009 to 2010 the number of livestock producers fell by 2 per cent to a total of 31 900. The number of holdings with dairy cows dropped by 6 per cent, while the decline in the number of holdings with pigs and dairy goats was 4 per cent. Holdings with sheep and broilers dropped slightly from 2009 to 2010.

Larger herds

The average holding with dairy cows had 21 cows in 2010, which is 7 more than in 1999. An average size holding with sheep had 72 sheep in 2010; 21 more than in 1999. The average holding with breeding pigs has grown from 26 breeding pigs in 1999 to 65 in 2010, and with laying hens from 900 to 2 000 in the same period. The average holding with dairy cows increased from 73 in 1999 to 90 in 2010.

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