December 2007 agricultural survey results published

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has published the results of the December 2007 sample survey of farms in Northern Ireland.

This survey is required by EU legislation and is undertaken to provide estimates of the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs on farms at the beginning of December. In addition, the survey provides information on levels of hay and silage production and sowings of winter cereals.

Since some of the estimates of livestock numbers and crop areas are derived from a sample survey, rather than a full census, they are subject to sampling error.

The main changes between December 2006 and December 2007 are:

• Dairy herds: In December 2007 the estimate of 288,600 dairy cows indicates no change in the dairy herd numbers.
• Beef breeding herds: The number of beef cows reduced by 9% to 249,400 compared with December 2006, while the number of beef heifers-in-calf decreased by 5%.
• All cattle: In total, there was a 4% reduction in the total cattle on farms in December 2007 compared to December 2006.
• Sheep: The sheep breeding flock increased by an estimated 11% between December 2006 and December 2007, though this total was still less than that recorded for 2005.
• Pigs: The estimate of 34,600 sows and gilts was 8% less than in December 2006.
• Hay and silage: Hay yields increased by 6% during 2007, though overall production fell by 17 per cent. The production of silage was 2% higher than 2006 with yield increasing by 3%, and the area cut by 1%.
• Winter crops: The area of cereal crops in the ground at 1st December is estimated to have been 20,900 hectares, a 39% increase compared with 2006.

Tables giving full details of the December Survey results are available at DARD's website

Notes to Editors:

1. The survey results were prepared by the Policy and Economics Division of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB.
2. All media queries to DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619.
3. All recent DARD statistical press releases can be found at DARD's website

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