The latest Scottish Agricultural Census reckoned cattle numbers were back in Scotland whilst the sheep flock rose for the first time since 2011 despite a reduced amount of ewes.

According to the latest from AHDB, suckler cow numbers fell significantly since 2010 with a drop of 7%, representing a decrease of 42,000 head of livestock. Whilst suckler cow numbers decreased, the dairy herd didn’t, bucking the trend with a 2% increase.

Suckler herd numbers indicate the future prime beef supply and could suggest, with a falling suckler herd, a potential price rise in suckled calves and fat cattle going forward.

The number of female beef cattle over two years of age was back 2% on the year whilst the number of female beef cattle between one and two years of age were also back. Calf numbers were also back 1% on the year.

By June, the total number of sheep was 6.7 million, up by 122,000 head year on year. Better weather conditions during 2013 and the spring of 2014 improved lambing and rearing rates, resulting in a 5% rise in the number of lambs on the year.

However, this follows a lower number of lambs in 2013 and, at 3.27 million head, the number this year was almost exactly the same as it was in June 2012, according to AHDB.

These higher lamb numbers support increases in both England and Northern Ireland (with the Welsh results also expected to show some uplift when published). As such, there continues to be the expectation that UK laughterings will generally show year-on-year increases for the remainder of the season.

Breeding ewes, just like suckler cows, have declined seeing a 0.5% drop on the year to level at 2.6 million head.

This continues to represent a long term decline in the flock, and is unlikely to stop in the short term as the industry continues to struggle with profitability and CAP reform is likely to result in lower support payments.