Cattle housing, technology, and feed supplements

This year’s agricultural census included a module with new questions covering cattle housing, technology, and feed supplements.

Of the 16,645 agricultural holdings that responded to the June Agricultural Census 2026, 8,580 (52%) responded to at least one question in the cattle housing, technology and feed supplements module section. These module questions would not have been applicable to all holdings.

Few holdings keep cattle housed all year round

Housing patterns significantly influence cattle diet, activity levels, and manure management. This information helps improve understanding of national feed requirements and nutrient flows, ensuring that Scotland's greenhouse gas inventory and agricultural strategies reflect the reality of modern farming practices.

The first question in this module asked whether cattle on the holding are housed full-time throughout the year. Of the 5,219 holdings with beef cows that responded, 268 (5.1%) house them full-time throughout the year. Similarly, 115 (9.6%) of the 1,197 holdings with dairy cows do so. Among holdings with other types of cattle, such as calves, 246 (7.5%) house them full-time throughout the year.

Figure 18: Holdings with cattle housed full-time, all year round, by cattle type, 2026. Note a holding may be counted in more than one cattle type.

Among holdings that do not house their cattle full-time, all year round, dairy cows are generally housed earlier in the autumn and turned out earlier in the spring than beef cows.

For beef cows, full-time housing is equally likely to begin in October and November (42% of holdings each). October is the most commonly reported month for bringing dairy cows into full-time housing (57%).

Beef cows are typically let out of full-time housing in May (48%) and April (43%). For dairy cows, April is the most common month for turnout (51%) followed by May (36%).

Figure 19: Month cattle are typically brought into and let out of full-time housing, by cattle type, 2026.

Among holdings that do not typically house their cattle full-time, all year round, six months of the year is the most common housing duration for all cattle types. Dairy cows and other cattle are more likely to be housed for seven months than for five, whereas beef cows are almost equally likely to be housed for five or seven months. Housing periods for less than four months or more than eight months are uncommon across all cattle types.

Figure 20: Number of months cattle are typically housed (if not housed full-time, all year round), by cattle type, 2026.

The majority of holdings typically house cattle in livestock buildings for between one and four hours per day across all cattle types. Dairy cows are generally housed for shorter periods than beef cows, with over half of dairy cow holdings housing for one to four hours per day, compared with 40% of beef cow holdings. Few holdings house cattle for 17 to 20 hours per day and none for 21 hours or more per day.

Figure 21: Number of hours per day cattle are typically housed (if not housed full-time, all year round), by cattle type, 2026. Note, none reported they house cattle for 21 hours or more per day.

Sheep are more likely to be weighed than cows

Questions on the frequency of livestock weighing and the use of automated heat detection and electronic milk meters were included to assess the uptake of technology in Scottish farming, helping inform research and advisory activities.

Sheep are weighed more frequently than cows, with 42% of holdings weighing their sheep between one and five times per year and 17% weighing them six or more times.

Beef cows are weighed more frequently than dairy cows, with 37% of holdings weighing beef cows between one and five times per year and 5.0% weighing them six or more times. In comparison, 12% of holdings weigh dairy cows between one and five times per year and 4.0% weigh them six or more times.

Figure 22: Frequency of weighing livestock in a typical year, by livestock type, 2026.

Automatic heat detection is used by 1.6% of holdings with beef cows (61 holdings). In contrast, 37% of holdings with dairy cows (224) use automatic heat detection. Uptake of electronic milk meters is higher still, with 73% of dairy cow holdings (263) reporting use of this technology.

Figure 23: Use of automatic heat detection and electronic milk meters, 2026.

Very low uptake of methane-reducing feed supplements

Methane-reducing and other feed supplements could help reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming. Current uptake of methane-reducing feed supplements is very low. Out of 6,416 holdings, six (0.1%) reported using Bovaer® (DSM). Similarly, fewer than five of 6,212 holdings (0.1%) reported using SilvAir™ (Cargill).

Use of other feed supplements Xtract® (ADM) and Anavrin (Agrifirm) is also very limited across all livestock types. RumiTech® (Harbro) has the highest level of uptake, with 14% of holdings (543 holdings) reporting its use for beef cows, compared with 9.3% (353) for sheep and 7.7% (34) for dairy cows.

Figure 24: Use of selected feed supplements, by livestock type, 2026.

Of the 6,462 holdings that responded, 678 (10%) reported they (and/or their advisor) consider methane emissions when formulating livestock diets.

The use of a total mixed ration varies by cattle type. Dairy cows are most likely to be fed a total mixed ration when they are not grazing, either fully or partially (75% of holdings that responded, or 316 out of the 420 holdings with dairy cows). Usage is lower among beef cows and other cattle, with 40% of responding holdings fully or partially feeding a total mixed ration (although the number of holdings reporting fully or partially feeding a total mixed ration was higher for beef cows and other cattle when compared with dairy cows).

Figure 25: Use of total mixed rations by cattle type, 2026.