Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (a) dairy farmers, and (b) dairy cows, there were in each year from 2000 to 2009.
Answer
Changes in the number of farmers and dairy cows are just two elements of the structural changes that have taken place in the sector. The long-term trend in dairy production is towards fewer, larger and more productive herds. The table below provides the fuller picture on the structural changes in the sector and shows how the decline in the number of dairy farms and farmers has been offset by an increase in average herd size and milk yields.
The number of principal farmers on dairy holdings is not yet available for 2009, so the most recent data cover up to 2008. The 2009 data will be released in March 2010.
The decrease in the numbers of dairy farmers in England between 2000 and 2008 (-26 per cent) is less than the fall in the number of holdings with dairy cows between 2000 and 2009 (-36 per cent). This reflects a rise in the average number of farmers per farm over the period as the average farm size has increased.
However, the number of dairy cows has decreased by less (-24 per cent), reflecting a rise in the average herd size.
| Number of dairy farms | | No farmers (a) on dairy holdings | | Number of dairy cows (thousands) | |
| (b) | (c) | (b) | (c) | (b) | (c) |
| 2000 | | 15,219 | | 31,418 | | 1,576 |
| 2001 | | 14,293 | | 30,178 | | 1,490 |
| 2002 | | 14,537 | | 30,425 | | 1,462 |
| 2003 | | 13,770 | | 28,918 | | 1,435 |
| 2004 | | 13,264 | | 28,057 | | 1,374 |
| 2005 | | 12,918 | | 26,168 | | 1,311 |
| 2006 | 11,522 | 11,079 | 22,483 | 25,706 | 1,259 | 1,290 |
| 2007 | 10,907 | | 21,082 | | 1,236 | |
| 2008 | 10,331 | | 20,122 | | 1,199 | |
| 2009 | 9,805 | -- | -- | -- | 1,163 | |
| % change between 2000 and 2009(e) | | -36% | | -26% | | -24% |
"-- not yet available""(a) Farmers are defined as principal farmers, partners, directors and spouses if working on the holding.""(b) Sourced from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS). Defined as the number of holdings on 1 June each year with more than 10 dairy cows in the milking herd. CTS became the main source of cattle data from 2006 onwards. Results prior to this were sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture but are not directly comparable.""(c) Sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture. Defined as the number of holdings with dairy as the predominant farming activity."
"(a) Farmers are defined as principal farmers, partners, directors and spouses if working on the holding.""(b) Sourced from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS). Defined as the number of holdings on 1 June each year with more than 10 dairy cows in the milking herd. CTS became the main source of cattle data from 2006 onwards. Results prior to this were sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture but are not directly comparable.""(c) Sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture. Defined as the number of holdings with dairy as the predominant farming activity."
"(b) Sourced from the Cattle Tracing System (CTS). Defined as the number of holdings on 1 June each year with more than 10 dairy cows in the milking herd. CTS became the main source of cattle data from 2006 onwards. Results prior to this were sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture but are not directly comparable.""(c) Sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture. Defined as the number of holdings with dairy as the predominant farming activity."
"(c) Sourced from the June Survey of Agriculture. Defined as the number of holdings with dairy as the predominant farming activity."