Declining cattle, sheep, and pig numbers in the latest Scottish Agricultural Census, have highlighted a frightening longer-term trend of reduction for livestock in Scotland.

Census figures for June 2024 show total pig numbers declined by 8% year-on-year.

Scottish cattle numbers remain in a state of decline following the long term-trend, 2024 seeing a 2.4% decline on the five-year average.

According to the agricultural census, the latest published by the Scottish government, the declining numbers of calf and female beef cattle are partly to blame.

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Dairy cattle have seen a slight increase, rising 0.8% to 266,000 head, however, beef cattle breeding herds fell by 1.1% in comparison to the five-year average.

Scottish government analysts said: “"Total cattle numbers in Scotland have been in a long-term decline since a high in 1974, when there were 2.68 million cattle.

"This trend continued in 2024, with cattle numbers falling to 1.67m, a decline of 2.4% compared with the five year average. If compared with 2023, cattle numbers decreased by 0.9%.

"Over the past decade there has been a 12% decline in the total beef breeding herd, with a total beef breeding herd of 382,600 in 2024.

"The total number of dairy cows has increased by 5.8% over the past 10 years from 169,700 in 2014 to 179,600 in 2024."

Much of this decline was driven by contraction within the beef herd, which fell by 1.1% on the year to 648,000 head, while the total number of dairy cattle increased by 0.8% to 266,000 head.

This is despite payments being made available by the Scottish government to encourage beef production through the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme.

The total number of sheep also fell to its lowest point for at least a decade at 6.47m head. This represents a 2.25% annual fall and a 3.8% fall on the five-year average.

Supplies are expected to remain tight moving forward with 58,000 fewer breeding ewes in 2024 than the previous year.

Breeding ewe numbers decreased considerably by 3.7% to 2.45m this year, with lamb numbers decreasing 4.4% to 3.15m, both compared with the same period.

The worst decline was illustrated within the breeding pig herd population, plummeting to just 28,600 head, down 2,500 on the previous years study.

The breeding pig herd declined by 2500 head to just 28,600 head, the lowest for more than a decade.

Long-term declining livestock numbers do not just impact agricultural businesses and may have a knock-on effect to wider industry stakeholders including processors, hauliers, livestock markets, and dealerships.

NFU Scotland livestock policy manager, Lisa Hislop said: “NFU Scotland will be reviewing and processing the results of the latest census in due course.

“However, it is well recognised that the livestock sector is well below critical mass – the unintended consequences of this impacts our propensity to deliver on public goods, supply high-quality red meat, and support rural communities.

“It must be a priority for everyone in the supply chain to stabilise livestock figures. While this is no mean feat, we must consider what policy and market metrics are required to underpin Scottish producers.”

She added: “There are many contributing factors that impact delivery of high-quality red meat, and it has not been until recently that we are seeing a fair return to primary producers in the beef sector.

“It is critical that this continues across the entire livestock sector.

“Alongside market returns, producers need progressive policy which enables efficiency and productivity gains to be realised while also encouraging innovation.”

The Scottish government's Agricultural Census provides an annual update on trends in farming activity across Scotland.

It covers all main types of farming and other aspects of farming life such as the availability of labour.