Livestock numbers fall as producers see little profit

Published on Wednesday 23 September 2009 19:32

THE publication yesterday of figures confirming the decline in the number of livestock on Scottish farms was no surprise to BFU Scotland president, Jim McLaren, when the government produced the statistics from the June 2009 census.

But even if he was not surprised, he still described the figures as disappointing. "Declining livestock numbers largely reflect the lack of profitability, exacerbated by high input costs, and an ageing workforce."

He added that greater market volatility had also led many producers to reduce their livestock numbers.

All species of livestock saw decreases in numbers. The Scottish beef industry is seen as critical to the farming industry and yet numbers of beef cows fell 3.1 per cent to leave just over 460,000 breeding cattle.

The dairy sector also declined, with a drop of 2.5 per cent in the number of cows being milked. Sheep numbers fell by 184,828, or 2.6 per cent. The total number of pigs fell by 39,846, some 9.1 per cent of the total, leaving just 396,057 pigs in Scotland. Poultry numbers also declined with almost half a million fewer hens, a drop of 3.6 per cent.

McLaren hoped that recent improved market returns would restore confidence to sheep and beef producers. Later today representatives of the dairy trade will meet government and the union president expressed the wish that the meeting would provide positive ways of tackling the decline in the Scottish dairy herd.

McLaren also expressed concerns over the pig numbers, saying these left the Scottish industry below a "critical mass" level. He hoped the current strong demand for pigmeat would result in a larger stronger pig herd in the future.

Labour's rural development spokesperson, Karen Gillon accused the government of failing to tackle the problems facing the industry: "A report by the cross-party rural affairs committee urged the Scottish Government to include outdoor breeders of pigs in the Single Farm Payment scheme, but this has been ignored."

Faced with the evidence of a downward slide in numbers, cabinet secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead reflected that the "stats are in line with recent long-term trends", but he believed there was now a new mood in the industry with "strong indications that many producers are looking to the future with increased confidence".

There was also an increase in consumer demand for Scottish produce. He said the government would continue to support the farming industry and the livestock sector in particular, to ensure it enjoyed a commercially-viable future.

McLaren reacted by pointing out that the cabinet secretary had met retailers after the figures had been produced yesterday and he hoped the point had been made to them that their role was key to the future of the farming industry.

"Driving up demand for Scottish produce, and increasing its total value, will only stimulate renewed confidence in keeping livestock or growing crops, if it brings fair and sustained returns to those who produce the beef, lamb, pork, milk, eggs, poultry, cereals or fruit," he concluded.