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More prime cattle, fewer cows in GB
Wednesday, 8 June 2022
The latest cattle population figures from the British Cattle Movement Service showed further growth in the number of cattle in GB.
On the 1 April, there were 7.8 million cattle and calves on British holdings, up 0.6% (45,000 head) from the same point a year ago.
The number of dairy and beef female cattle over two years old (an indication of the size of the breeding herd) stood at 3.2 million head, a further contraction of 1.2% year-on-year (-39,000 head). Dairy females shrunk in number by a further 1.6%, while beef females contracted by 0.8%.
The number of prime animals (heifers, steers and young bulls aged between 12-30 months) in the country stood at 1.6 million head, up 4% versus the same point a year ago.
All cattle types increased in number, with beef females up 3% (+20,000 head), beef males up 4% (+30,000 head), and dairy males up 7% (+8,000 head).
The number of animals aged 12 months and below stood at 2.5 million head, largely stable (+0.3%) versus the 1 April 2021. The number of dairy males decreased further, down 13% (22,600 head) year-on-year, with decline particularly concentrated in the under 6-month group. This was not enough to offset increases in the number of dairy females (+16,500 head), nor beef types (+14,000 head).
Based on these figures, and as reported in our Agri Market Outlook, we expect that more prime cattle will come forward during the second half of 2022. Prime cattle numbers have been tighter so far in 2022 versus a year ago, underpinning the strength seen in finished prices. Indeed, our estimated slaughter for the last couple of weeks has shown more cattle forward versus a year ago, with average prices holding steady for several weeks. However, decisions made on-farm around cost of production and mitigating high input costs will of course be the ultimate decider of future supplies.
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