September 29, 2009

UK cattle numbers continued their steady decline this year, with 0.8-percent lower to June 2009 to just over 10 million, according to DEFRA's provisional June census results.

There was a three-percent fall in the breeding herd from 3.6 million to 3.5 million, largely due to a three-percent decrease in both the beef and dairy herds to 1.6 million and 1.9 million respectively.

The number of female cattle not in the breeding herd declined by two percent.

In contrast the number of male cattle destined for slaughter increased two percent on-year.