Results from the 2025 June census in England show that the cattle breeding herd has continued its long-term downward trend, decreasing 1.4% to stand at 1.7m.

However, dairy cow numbers are stable at 1.1m, so the decrease is being driven by lower suckler numbers, which fell 4.3% to 569,000 head. In June 2010 there were over 756,000 suckler cows in England and a total breeding herd of 1.92m.

Similar recent declines are also being seen in the English sheep flock, with total numbers down 3.8% to 13.3m in June 2025 and the breeding flock dropping 2.1% to 6.4m.

Pig numbers are also down, with the breeding herd falling 4% to 313,000. Five years ago, the herd stood at over 400,000.

However, poultry numbers are up, mainly on the back of an 8.2% increase in broilers, which were recorded at 95m. However, the breeding and laying flock was down 6.3%.

Wheat and barley

The English wheat area is estimated to be up 9% at 1.53m ha, however, the barley area is down 13% in 2025 at 742,000 ha. It is the smallest English barley area since 2014.