15 January 2007

2 minute read

Europe

In four years, Scotland has lost 25 per cent of its dairy farmers. However, the total quantity of milk produced has not fallen to any similar extent. Figures just released by the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association (SDCA) are likely to come as a surprise to many not directly linked to milk production, most of whom have assumed that there is an ongoing mass exodus of producers.

The SCDA has updated its results and the latest data as of 1 January, reveals that since 1 July 2006 the total number of herds has fallen by just 17 to 1,172. In addition the number of dairy cows has declined over the same period by only 540 to 157,648. The average herd size, which is the EU's largest by some margin, has risen by two to 135 cows.

Jack Lawson of the SDCA commented: "There is a lot of talk about people giving up milk production and I know that there is evidence that this may gather momentum in the spring. However, the present net loss of 17 herds from last July has nearly been made up by larger herds."

"The pleasing factor is that there are more cows being milk recorded than ever before with eight counties in Scotland hitting the 100 per cent mark. The new managerial information available from recording has a huge bearing on nutrition, fertility and profitability and is particularly valuable in the larger herds."

There are now six counties where the average herd size is over 200 cows and the largest area in this bracket is Kircudbright, with 70 herds averaging 203 cows. Ayrshire remains the largest dairying county, with 240 herds and 29,154 cows, but this is now closely followed by Dumfriesshire, with 193 herds and 28,665 cows. Lanarkshire comes next with 162 herds and 16,034 cows. The average size is 99 cows.

Source: The Scotsman