Organic livestock 

Organic cattle 

In 2025, there were 34,900 organically farmed cattle in Scotland, representing 2.1% of Scotland’s cattle population based on results from the June Agricultural Census. This is an increase of 0.9% from 2024 when organic cattle also represented 2.1% of the total cattle population. The proportion has increased slightly since 2021, when organic cattle represented 2.0% of the total cattle population. 

Figure 4: Organic cattle in Scotland, 2018 to 2025.

Organic Sheep 

There were 177,600 organically farmed sheep in 2025, representing 2.7% of the total sheep population in Scotland. This is a 13% increase from 2024 and an 18% increase since 2021. 

Figure 5: Organic sheep in Scotland, 2018 to 2025.

Organic pigs 

The number of organically farmed pigs has fluctuated between 2018 and 2025. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a 91% decrease to under 1,000 organically farmed pigs in Scotland. This decrease was mainly due to fewer organic pig-producing farms in 2023 than in 2022. Pig numbers decreased further between 2024 and 2025, remaining under 1,000 pigs. 

Figure 6: Organic pigs in Scotland, 2018 to 2025.

Organic poultry 

Organically farmed poultry numbers have fluctuated since 2018. Numbers increased between 2020 and 2022 where they reached a peak of 383,600. Numbers then declined to 253,900 in 2024. In 2025, organic poultry numbers increased by 11% to 282,800 which represents 2.3% of the poultry population in Scotland. 

Figure 7: Organic poultry in Scotland, 2018 to 2025.