Scottish Dairy Herds & Cows Decrease

The 1st of January 2023 dairy herd statistics for Scotland, released by the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association, show a decrease in dairy cow numbers and herds, with 799 less cows and a net loss of 28 herds compared to January 2022

The average herd size continues to rise and now stands at 222, up 6 on the year, with the total milking cows at 178 562

In Scotland there are now 804 dairy herds, a decline of 223 over the last 10 years Scottish Herd Analysis

Lanarkshire had the highest decrease in herds, with a net loss of 7 Ayrshire and Wigtownshire 4 fewer herds each However, these counties, also saw new dairies start up along with considerable investment from established herds in new milking parlours or robots

Cows officially milk recorded are 73% of the dairy cow population with an average herd size of 236 cows.

There is also an increase in cows being monitored, through milk samples, for somatic cell count, pregnancy diagnosis and disease testing, with farmers, milk buyers, and industry partners all aware of animal health and the financial benefits of improving milk quality and reducing disease.

Commenting Janette Mathie, the secretary of the SDCA said:

“Milk price stabilised in 2022, mainly due to a shortage of milk, however energy costs and shortage of labour still prove a great challenge to Scottish dairy farmers, who are committed to producing high quality milk and dairy products and breeding superior dairy cattle”

Aberdeenshire 14 2994 214 2120 9 236 71 Angus 7 1797 257 1597 5 319 89 Argyllshire 8 1530 191 1140 6 190 75 Arran 1 55 55 55 1 55 100 Ayrshire 210 36080 172 23457 123 191 65 Banffshire 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Berwickshire 2 1177 589 1177 2 589 100 Caithness & Sutherland 3 192 64 0 0 0 0 Clackmannan 3 285 95 285 3 95 100 Dumfries-shire 148 36615 247 32238 118 273 88 Dunbartonshire 10 1418 142 993 7 142 70 East Lothian 2 796 398 416 1 415 52 Fife 18 3387 188 3387 18 188 100 Inverness-shire 1 143 143 143 1 143 100 Kinross-shire 3 649 213 639 3 213 100 Kintyre Peninsula 25 3397 136 1992 13 153 59 Kirkcudbrightshire 59 23805 403 14918 41 364 63 Lanarkshire 79 14721 186 12470 67 186 85 Midlothian 5 759 152 574 3 191 76 Morayshire 3 1699 566 527 2 264 31 Orkney 16 1837 115 663 5 133 36 Outer Hebrides 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Peeblesshire 3 1095 365 728 2 364 66 Perthshire 4 995 249 995 4 249 100 Renfrewshire 18 2805 156 2176 11 199 78 Ross & Cromarty 1 120 120 0 0 0 0 Roxburghshire 5 2925