Scottish beef numbers fall but sheep on the increase
THERE has been a 4% fall in beef cows, as farmers and crofters appear to have kept more sheep.
That’s one of the key stats revealed by NFU Scotland’s 2023 Intentions Survey, which closed on January 10. Crucially, it pointed to a further shrinkage of Scotland’s iconic beef sector, with many farmers reducing cow numbers, alongside indications that some are replacing them with sheep.
The survey was set up to assess the scale of change that unprecedented input costs and flat-lining output prices are having on business plans across all sectors. Analysis of responses from livestock farmers and crofters hints to an average beef herd size reduction of 4% versus last year, but an average increase in flock size of 2%.
However, initial analysis also points to unproductive cows being removed from the national herd, tempted by high cull cow prices, which in theory should mean a more efficient power base.
According to the Scottish Government agricultural census, between 2011 and 2021, there was a 12% decline in the total Scottish beef herd to 413,000 cows. Over the same period, the Scottish ewe flock has fallen by less than 3% to 2.57m ewes in 2021.
Kelly Henaughen / The Scottish Farmer
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