Defra census figures from June show UK dairy cow numbers fell by 33,000 (1.8 per cent) in June 2011 compared the previous year; the figures show that, overall, the UK herd has decreased by 7.2 per cent in the past five years.

There are currently around 1.81 million dairy cows in the UK. However, the figures show the percentage of younger cows, both heifers aged one to two and animals under one year old, has grown slightly since last year. Industry voices have suggested better cull cow values are a factor in the decrease, along with ever-rising input costs.