The number of dairy cows in England from 1970 to 2005 are shown in the following table.
Dairy cows (number)
1970 2,063,905
1971 2,079,156
1972 2,150,591
1973 2,223,876
1974 2,198,324
1975 2,114,625
1976 2,113,020
1977 2,130,081
1978 2,137,785
1979 2,150,703
1980 2,116,273
1981 2,083,140
1982 2,132,320
1983 2,176,756
1984 2,101,584
1985 2,027,753
1986 2,017,327
1987 1,939,944
1988 1,853,394
1989 1,801,844
1990 1,999,000
1991 1,937,700
1992 1,872,700
1993 1,862,800
1994 1,898,400
1995 1,810,700
1996 1,784,700
1997 1,701,700
1998 1,642,636
1999 1,659,210
2000 1,574,779
2001 1,490,226
2002 1,462,155
2003 1,434,727
2004 1,374,455
2005(12) 1,315,000
(12) 2005 figure is provisional.
Notes:
1. Data prior to 2000 excludes minor holdings, data after 2000 includes all holdings.
2. Dairy herd classified as all dairy cows and heifers that have calved.
Source:
June Agricultural Survey.
Since 1984 UK production has been constrained by milk quota where penalties are incurred if total production goes over pre set limits. During this period cow numbers have declined while average milk yield per cow has increased allowing total production to remain relatively stable at the level of quota.