Scottish Government

A Scottish Executive Statistics Publication

Results from the December 2005 Agricultural Census

The trends between December 2004 and 2005 show:

• For intensive livestock, the number of pigs rose by half a per cent to 494,500, and the number of poultry rose by 1.5 per cent from 14.4 million to 14.6 million.
• The number of sheep fell by three per cent from 5.5 million to 5.3 million. The number of cattle was unchanged, remaining at about 1.9 million.
• The area of wheat rose by four per cent from 93,000 hectares to 97,000 hectares. The area of barley was unchanged, remaining at around 56,000 hectares.
• The total number of regular staff employed fell by three per cent, and there was a decrease of 12 per cent in the number of casual/seasonal staff. Overall, there was a fall in the number of staff employed (down by around 1000).

Tables

• Table 1 Estimated number of cattle, 1995 to 2005 (thousands)
• Table 2 Estimated number of sheep, 1995 to 2005 (thousands)
• Table 3 Estimated number of pigs, 1995 to 2005 (thousands)
• Table 4 Estimated number of poultry, 1995 to 2005 (thousands)
• Table 5 Estimated farm labour, 1995 to 2005 (thousands)
• Table 6 Estimated crops and grass area, hay and silage production, 1995 to 2005

The following documents are available within the Agriculture and Fisheries Statistics topic:

• December 2005 Results (Excel version)
• December 2005 Results (PDF version)

Key Notes

1. The results relate to the annual December sample census of main holdings - i.e. holdings above a certain economic or physical threshold. The returns are completed by farmers, who provide information on the crops and livestock on the land which they own or rent on a permanent basis.
2. Since 2000 an annual reclassification exercise has been carried out, which results in a number of main holdings being reclassified as minor holdings and vice versa. As these statistics cover main holdings only, there are slight discontinuities in the data since 2000.
3. In 2005 the December Agricultural Sample Census covered around 11,000 of the 27,000 main agricultural holdings in Scotland. Since these results are based on a sample, the estimates are subject to a degree of uncertainty.
4. Media may obtain the statistical tables which accompany this news release by telephoning Kim Oliver on 0131 244 2687. Non-media may obtain copies by e-mailing agric.stats@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or by calling David Rowley on 0131 244 5239.
5. All figures are rounded to the nearest 1000 except pigs and labour which are rounded to the nearest 100. Figures may not, therefore, add to totals.
6. Percentage figures, which have been calculated using unrounded figures, have been rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent.