UK cattle and sheep numbers up slightly
© Tim Scrivener Total UK cattle and sheep numbers both increased marginally in 2021, according to Defra’s latest statistics.
On 1 December 2021, there were 9.4 million head of cattle and calves in the UK, up 0.8% on the previous year.
UK sheep and lambs totalled 22.8 million head, a 3% increase on December 2020.
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Figures relating to the pig sector are not collected, due to data no longer being available from the devolved administrations, according to the report.
Cattle
The UK breeding herd, which accounts for 35% of total cattle, decreased 0.3% on 2020 levels, to 3.3 million head on 1 December 2021.
The beef breeding herd stood at 1.4 million head, down 0.9% on the previous year, and the dairy breeding herd increased 0.1% to 1.9 million head.
In total, the number of all female cattle aged above two years declined 1.2% on 2020 levels to total 3.8 million head.
Youngstock (under two years) were up on the previous year’s levels across all categories. This increase in youngstock was expected to offset some of the current tight supply in the beef sector as they progress and also replace some of the declines in the breeding herd.
Sheep
The UK breeding flock increased 2.7% to total 14.5 million head in December 2021. Other sheep and lambs totalled 8.3 million head, an annual increase of 3.7%, according to the provisional results.
Rebecca Wright, senior analyst at AHDB, said: “Some growth in the breeding ewe numbers was expected, based upon optimism in the industry and low ewe slaughter figures during 2021. Despite this rise in breeding ewe numbers, there is still doubt over the accuracy of the Defra slaughter data.
“The number of other sheep and lambs also increased, reflecting the expected slaughter pattern. Numbers are up on the year and in line with recent historic averages.”