March 28, 2012

Wales beef down, sheep on rise

Wales' sheep figures are showing signs of a recovery while the number of beef cattle continues to drop.

The annual survey of agriculture presents a snapshot of the industry in December each year. The latest figures published by the Welsh Government for last December show that the number of beef cattle aged two years or older has fallen from 232,500 to 220,000 in 12 months.

There are now 25,600 pigs in Wales, but this is fewer than half the number in 2000 when Welsh farms were home to 65,200 of the animals.

In the sheep sector, following years of decline from 1999 there are signs of a revival in numbers. The total breeding flock in December 2011 stands at 3,988,000, an increase of 217,000 over the 2010 figure.

"The increase in the sheep breeding flock is to be welcomed and is a sign of growing confidence in this sector of the industry," said John Richards, Industry Information Officer with Hybu Cig Cymru (HCC). "This is highlighted by the fact that there were over 100,000 more ewe lambs kept on Welsh farms in December 2011 than in 2010. Encouraging market returns for lambs have led farmers to invest in the future, although growing costs are a worry and need to be kept under control.

"The continuing decline in the beef sector is a cause for concern, but it's not only a problem in Wales. Global beef production is predicted to fall over the next 12 months, with only Australia and Brazil expected to buck the trend. "At the same time, there is growing demand for red meat in China while Russia is struggling to increase its domestic beef production and therefore continues to import large volumes. HCC hopes that Welsh Beef will soon be given access to the Russian market.

"HCC hopes that farmers in Wales will look positively at the worldwide demand for beef and recognise that there are opportunities opening up in markets across the globe. This, together with improved market returns, will hopefully stimulate them to increase production in Wales and reverse the downward trend in production."