Scottish Agricultural Census: June 2019

Dairy cow numbers remained steady as beef cow numbers fall

The number of beef cows has fallen in the past year. In June 2019 there were 417,400 beef cows in Scotland, down from 424,300 in June 2018, a fall of two per cent.

• Number of beef cows 417,400
• Number of dairy cows 175,800

Dairy cow numbers remained steady in the past year. In June 2019 there were 175,800 dairy cows in Scotland, up from 174,700 in June 2018, a rise of less than one per cent.

Dairy cow numbers are likely benefiting from strong milk prices over the past year meaning they are more profitable than beef cows.