Scottish Census Reveals Fall in Animal Numbers

SCOTLAND, UK - There were declines in the number of all farm livestock and poultry in the June 2009 census compared to a year previously, including 4.5 per cent fewer broilers and 1.3 per cent fewer laying hens.
calendar icon 24 September 2009
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Scotland's Chief Statistician has published final results from the 2009 June Agricultural Census.

There were declines in the number of all farm livestock and poultry compared to the census in June 2008.

The total number of cattle fell by 42,333 (2.3 per cent) to 1.812 million. The number of cows in the beef herd decreased by 14,349 (3.1 per cent) and the number of cows in the dairy herd was down by 4,899 (2.5 per cent). There was a decrease in the number of cattle aged under one year of 16,749 (3.1 per cent).

The total number of sheep fell by 184,828 (2.6 per cent) to 6.9 million. There was a decrease in the number of ewes used for breeding of 70,691 (2.5 per cent) and the number of lambs fell by 79,004 (2.3 per cent).

The total number of pigs fell by 39,846 (9.1 per cent) to 396,057. The pig breeding herd decreased by 3,680 (10.0 per cent), although there was an increase in the number of gilts to be used for breeding of 1,595 (41.1 per cent). There was a decrease in the number of pigs for meat production of 37,467 or 9.5 per cent.

The size of the poultry flock fell by 496,356 (3.6 per cent), to 13.3 million. There was a decrease in the number of broiler and other birds for meat production of 383,072 (4.5 per cent). The number of fowls for egg production fell by 53,082 (1.3 per cent) and the number of fowls for breeding was down by 59,431 (4.6 per cent).

Further Reading

- You can view the full results of the June 2009 census by clicking here.
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