GB producer numbers

Updated 11 March 2024

This information shows changes in the number of dairy producers in GB on a 6-monthly basis according to data from AHDB. 

• AHDB's survey into producer numbers of major milk buyers in October 2023 suggested there are an estimated 7,500 dairy producers in Great Britain. This is down 4.5% on the previous year.

In the downloadable dataset, figures are also available by month and region from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). These include buffalo, goat and sheep’s milk producers, as well as cows’ milk.

Any producer selling milk for human consumption must be registered with the FSA – regardless of herd size.

The FSA figures represent the number of processed forms received each month – and this is subject to time lags. As a result, the figures may not be a true reflection of the rate of farmers exiting the industry. The FSA data should therefore be treated with caution.

Related information on cow numbers can be found on the webpage below:

This dataset was produced by our Data and Analysis Team. To find out more about the team, please visit the Data and Analysis team page.

If you need any further help, please email Martin, Dorian, Gavin or Esther at datum@ahdb.org.uk

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