The total number of dairy herds in NI has more than halved from 7,108 in 1988 to 3,529 in 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
The average dairy herd in NI continued to increase last year to reach 90 cows, figures recently published by DAERA indicate.
Historic records from 1981 show that the average dairy herd has increased almost every year, with the number more than doubling since 1995 when the average dairy farm had just under 45 cows.
Total cow numbers in NI hit a record high in June last year of 317,416 head. While the actual number of herds has been relatively steady since 2011, it has more than halved from 7,108 in 1988 to 3,529 in 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sucklers and sheep
There were 14,756 suckler herds with an average of 18 cows in NI last year. Suckler numbers have generally been in decline from the high seen in 1998 when both total cow numbers and average herd size were 344,704 and 19, respectively.
Likewise, breeding sheep figures are significantly lower than the highs seen in 1998 of 1,449,824 ewes and 126 ewes in the average flock. Figures for 2016 put the sheep flock at 912,700 ewes, with 99.5 ewes per flock.
Register for free to read this story and our free stories.
This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account, use the code or subscribe to get unlimited access.
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
CODE ACCEPTED
You have full access to the site until next Wednesday at 9pm.
CODE NOT VALID
Please try again or contact support.
The average dairy herd in NI continued to increase last year to reach 90 cows, figures recently published by DAERA indicate.
Historic records from 1981 show that the average dairy herd has increased almost every year, with the number more than doubling since 1995 when the average dairy farm had just under 45 cows.
Total cow numbers in NI hit a record high in June last year of 317,416 head. While the actual number of herds has been relatively steady since 2011, it has more than halved from 7,108 in 1988 to 3,529 in 2016.
Sucklers and sheep
There were 14,756 suckler herds with an average of 18 cows in NI last year. Suckler numbers have generally been in decline from the high seen in 1998 when both total cow numbers and average herd size were 344,704 and 19, respectively.
Likewise, breeding sheep figures are significantly lower than the highs seen in 1998 of 1,449,824 ewes and 126 ewes in the average flock. Figures for 2016 put the sheep flock at 912,700 ewes, with 99.5 ewes per flock.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team, please call us on 01-4199525.
Link sent to your email address
We have sent an email to your address. Please click on the link in this email to reset your password. If you can't find it in your inbox, please check your spam folder. If you can't find the email, please call us on 01-4199525.
ENTER YOUR LOYALTY CODE:
The reader loyalty code gives you full access to the site from when you enter it until the following Wednesday at 9pm. Find your unique code on the back page of Irish Country Living every week.
SHARING OPTIONS