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Average dairy herd size in the United Kingdom (UK) 2002/03-2017/18
Average dairy herd size in the United Kingdom (UK) 2002/03-2017/18
Average size of the national dairy herd in the United Kingdom (UK) from period 2002/03 to 2017/18 (in 1,000 head)
by Nils-Gerrit Wunsch,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
In 2017/18, the average number of dairy cows, otherwise known as the ‘national dairy herd’ size in the United Kingdom was approximately 1.9 million animals. The last three years have broken a downward trend that lasted from 2002/03 to 2013/14. However, the current herd size is still more than 300 thousand animals smaller than it was in 2002/03.
UK milk production
The modern dairy cow is especially bred for milk production. Even though the UK dairy herd in 2002/03 was bigger than the current herd, the current milk production surpasses the one in 2002/03 by a few hundred million liters of milk. This is reflected in an increased average milk yield per cow in the UK.
UK Cheese production
Cheese production in the UK is up. The last 4 years has consistently surpassed 400 thousand metric tons, amounting to 455 thousand tons in 2017/2018. By far the biggest attributor to UK production is cheddar cheese. Here we can see again a significant increase in the production in the last four years.
Average size of the national dairy herd in the United Kingdom (UK) from period 2002/03 to 2017/18 (in 1,000 head)
Loading statistic...
| Average size in thousand head | |
|---|---|
| 2017/18** | 1,897 |
| 2016/17 | 1,897 |
| 2015/16 | 1,906 |
| 2014/15* | 1,866 |
| 2013/14 | 1,805 |
| 2012/13 | 1,795 |
| 2011/12* | 1,799 |
| 2010/11 | 1,836 |
| 2009/10 | 1,853 |
| 2008/09 | 1,894 |
| 2007/08* | 1,954 |
| 2006/07 | 1,989 |
| 2005/06 | 2,003 |
| 2004/05 | 2,060 |
| 2003/04* | 2,185 |
| 2002/03 | 2,224 |
| Average size in thousand head | |
|---|---|
| 2017/18** | 1,897 |
| 2016/17 | 1,897 |
| 2015/16 | 1,906 |
| 2014/15* | 1,866 |
| 2013/14 | 1,805 |
| 2012/13 | 1,795 |
| 2011/12* | 1,799 |
| 2010/11 | 1,836 |
| 2009/10 | 1,853 |
| 2008/09 | 1,894 |
| 2007/08* | 1,954 |
| 2006/07 | 1,989 |
| 2005/06 | 2,003 |
| 2004/05 | 2,060 |
| 2003/04* | 2,185 |
| 2002/03 | 2,224 |
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Source: Defra
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by Nils-Gerrit Wunsch,
last edited
Aug 9, 2019
In 2017/18, the average number of dairy cows, otherwise known as the ‘national dairy herd’ size in the United Kingdom was approximately 1.9 million animals. The last three years have broken a downward trend that lasted from 2002/03 to 2013/14. However, the current herd size is still more than 300 thousand animals smaller than it was in 2002/03.
UK milk production
The modern dairy cow is especially bred for milk production. Even though the UK dairy herd in 2002/03 was bigger than the current herd, the current milk production surpasses the one in 2002/03 by a few hundred million liters of milk. This is reflected in an increased average milk yield per cow in the UK.
UK Cheese production
Cheese production in the UK is up. The last 4 years has consistently surpassed 400 thousand metric tons, amounting to 455 thousand tons in 2017/2018. By far the biggest attributor to UK production is cheddar cheese. Here we can see again a significant increase in the production in the last four years.
- Source
- Defra
- Show further sources information
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- Show publisher information
- Release date
- April 2019
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Survey time period
- 2002/03 to 2017/18
- Supplementary notes
-
* Leap years.
** Provisional data
The source states that from 1999/00 to 2004/05 "the average size of the dairy herd is estimated by taking the size of the herd at June and December from the agricultural census information, and calculating the population trends during the remaining months of the year. From 2005/06 data is obtained through the Cattle Tracing System (CTS)."
Source
- Source
- Defra
- Show further sources information
- As a Premium user you get access to the detailed source references and background information about this statistic.
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- April 2019
More information
- Region
- United Kingdom
- Survey time period
- 2002/03 to 2017/18
- Supplementary notes
-
* Leap years.
** Provisional data
The source states that from 1999/00 to 2004/05 "the average size of the dairy herd is estimated by taking the size of the herd at June and December from the agricultural census information, and calculating the population trends during the remaining months of the year. From 2005/06 data is obtained through the Cattle Tracing System (CTS)."
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Average retail price of milk in Great Britain (UK) 2009-2017
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Milk market: Total milk sales volume in Great Britain 2009-2018
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Statistics on "Milk market in the United Kingdom (UK)"
- Overview
The most important statistics
- Value of milk production in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)Milk production value in the United Kingdom (UK) 2003-2018
- Total milk production in the United Kingdom (UK) from milk year 2001/02 to 2017/18 (in million liters)Milk production in the United Kingdom (UK) 2001/02-2017/18
- Liquid milk sales volume in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2018 (in million liters)Milk market: Total milk sales volume in Great Britain 2009-2018
- Liquid milk market expenditure in Great Britain from July 2017 to December 2018 (in million GBP)Milk market: Monthly expenditure in Great Britain 2017-2018
- Milk usage in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017*, by type (in million liters)Milk usage in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017, by type
- Import value of dairy in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)Dairy import value in the United Kingdom (UK) 2003-2018
- Export value of dairy in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)Dairy exports value in the United Kingdom (UK) 2003-2018
- Annual output value of milk in Scotland from 2003 to 2017* (British pence per liter)Milk average output value in Scotland 2003-2017
- Dairy farming
The most important statistics
- Monthly and cumulative deliveries of milk from dairies in the United Kingdom (UK) from October 2014 to October 2017 (in million liters)Milk supply: monthly and cumulative supply in the United Kingdom (UK) 2014-2017
- Average milk yield in the United Kingdom (UK) from milk year 2002/03 to 2015/17 (in liters per cow per annum)Average milk yield in the United Kingdom (UK) 2002/03-2015/17
- Size of dairy herd cattle population on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2018 (in 1000s)Dairy herd population in the United Kingdom (UK) 2005-2018
- Average income per farm from dairy farming in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009/10 to 2017/18* (in GBP)Income from dairy farming in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2018
- Number of dairy cows in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2018*Dairy cow numbers in the United Kingdom (UK) 2009-2018
- Average size of the national dairy herd in the United Kingdom (UK) from period 2002/03 to 2017/18 (in 1,000 head)Average dairy herd size in the United Kingdom (UK) 2002/03-2017/18
- Retail
The most important statistics
- Retail sales volume of liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017** (in million litres)Liquid Milk: Retail sales volume in Great Britain 2009-2017
- Retail sales volume of liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2018 split by type (in million liters)Retail sales volume of liquid milk in Great Britain 2009-2018, split by type
- Retail expenditure on liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017 (in million GBP)Liquid milk: Retail expenditure in Great Britain 2009-2017
- Retail expenditure on liquid milk in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017, split by type (in million GBP)Retail expenditure on liquid milk in Great Britain 2009-2017, split by type
- Average retail price of liquid milk in Great Britain (UK) from October 2009 to October 2017* (in pence per liter)Average retail price of milk in Great Britain (UK) 2009-2017
- Average retail price of liquid milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from September 2015 to March 2018* (in pence per liter), by monthly 52 weeks ending data setsAverage retail price of milk in the United Kingdom (UK) 2015-2018, per month
- Consumer behavior
The most important statistics
- Consumer spending on milk, cheese and eggs in the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2018 (in million GBP)*Expenditure on milk, cheese and eggs in the United Kingdom 2005-2018
- Average weekly household expenditure on milk in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017/18, by age of household reference person* (in GBP)Milk: Weekly household expenditure in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017/18, by age
- Average expenditure per person per week on milk and milk products (excluding cheese) in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2017 (in pence)*Milk and milk products: Weekly UK household expenditure 2006-2017
- Average expenditure per person per week on liquid whole milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2016/17 (in pence)*Weekly UK household expenditure on whole milk 2006-2017
- Average expenditure per person per week on skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2016/17 (in pence)Skimmed milk: Weekly UK household expenditure 2006-2017
- Average purchase per person per week of liquid whole milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)Weekly consumption of whole milk in the United Kingdom (UK) 2001-2017
- Average purchase per person per week of semi-skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)Weekly consumption of semi-skimmed liquid milk in the United Kingdom (UK) 2001-2017
- Average purchase per person per week of fully skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)Weekly consumption of fully skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) 2001 - 2017
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Statistics on "Milk market in the United Kingdom (UK)"
- Value of milk production in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)
- Total milk production in the United Kingdom (UK) from milk year 2001/02 to 2017/18 (in million liters)
- Liquid milk sales volume in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2018 (in million liters)
- Liquid milk market expenditure in Great Britain from July 2017 to December 2018 (in million GBP)
- Milk usage in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017*, by type (in million liters)
- Import value of dairy in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)
- Export value of dairy in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2003 to 2018 (in million GBP)
- Annual output value of milk in Scotland from 2003 to 2017* (British pence per liter)
- Annual value of milk output in Northern Ireland from 2010 to 2017 (in million GBP)
- Monthly and cumulative deliveries of milk from dairies in the United Kingdom (UK) from October 2014 to October 2017 (in million liters)
- Average milk yield in the United Kingdom (UK) from milk year 2002/03 to 2015/17 (in liters per cow per annum)
- Size of dairy herd cattle population on agricultural holdings in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2005 to 2018 (in 1000s)
- Average income per farm from dairy farming in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009/10 to 2017/18* (in GBP)
- Number of dairy cows in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2018*
- Average size of the national dairy herd in the United Kingdom (UK) from period 2002/03 to 2017/18 (in 1,000 head)
- Retail sales volume of liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017** (in million litres)
- Retail sales volume of liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2018 split by type (in million liters)
- Retail expenditure on liquid milk* in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017 (in million GBP)
- Retail expenditure on liquid milk in Great Britain from October 2009 to October 2017, split by type (in million GBP)
- Average retail price of liquid milk in Great Britain (UK) from October 2009 to October 2017* (in pence per liter)
- Average retail price of liquid milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from September 2015 to March 2018* (in pence per liter), by monthly 52 weeks ending data sets
- Consumer spending on milk, cheese and eggs in the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2018 (in million GBP)*
- Average weekly household expenditure on milk in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2017/18, by age of household reference person* (in GBP)
- Average expenditure per person per week on milk and milk products (excluding cheese) in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2017 (in pence)*
- Average expenditure per person per week on liquid whole milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2016/17 (in pence)*
- Average expenditure per person per week on skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2006 to 2016/17 (in pence)
- Average purchase per person per week of liquid whole milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)
- Average purchase per person per week of semi-skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)
- Average purchase per person per week of fully skimmed milk in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2001 to 2016/2017 (in milliliters)
- Average dairy herd size in Sweden from 2005 to 2014
- Number of dairy cows on farms in Denmark from 2007 to 2017
- Number of farms with dairy cows in Denmark from 2007 to 2017
- Dairy cow numbers in the European Union (EU-28) in 2016, by country*
- Average milk yield per cow per year in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2015 (in litres)
- Number of enterprises for raising dairy cattle in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2018, by turnover size band
- Number of cows on farms in Denmark from 2007 to 2017
- Number of dairy cows in Sweden from 2005 to 2014
- Value of the financial contribution per cow in the dairy production in New Zealand in the financial year 2013/14, by region (in New Zealand dollars)
- Herd size of eight leading dairy farms in China in 2016 (in 1,000s)
- Total number of cows in Belgium in 2018, by region
- Number of dairy cows in Italy from 2011 to 2018 (in 1,000 head)
- Average farmer expenditure on farm per dairy cow in New Zealand in the financial year 2013/14, by region (in New Zealand dollars)
- Average number of dairy cows per company in the dairy cattle industry in the Netherlands from 2007 to 2017*
- Number of farms with cows in Denmark from 2007 to 2017
- Annual import value of raw hides and skins of bovine in China from 2013 to 2017 (in million Canadian dollars)
- Annual number of cows and bulls in Scotland from 2005 to 2017* (in 1,000 units)
- Annual output value of cows and bulls in Scotland from 2005 to 2017* (in million GBP)
- Production volume of mushrooms in Canada in 2018, by province (in 1,000 tons)
- Number of livestock in Panama in 2017, by species (in 1,000s)
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