Calls Grow for Support as Welsh Suckler Numbers Slide
Welsh Suckler Herd Shrinks by Nearly 40% Amid Industry Pressure
Fresh figures show Wales’ suckler herd has contracted by almost 40% over the past two decades, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention to stabilise the beef sector.
According to reporting by Wales Farmer, fewer than 6,600 suckler herds now remain across Wales. The decline reflects prolonged margin pressure, rising input costs and structural changes within the UK beef industry.
An NFU Cymru report warns that continued contraction risks eroding critical mass within the Welsh beef supply chain. Industry representatives argue that without targeted policy support, further herd reductions could undermine rural employment, processing viability and domestic beef output.
Producers cite persistently high production costs alongside volatile farmgate returns as key drivers behind business exits. While tighter cattle numbers can provide short-term price support, the long-term concern centres on reduced national production capacity and diminished resilience.
Source: Wales Farmer | 16 February 2026
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