3  Demographics (herd-types, herd size, bovine population)

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3.1 Data and definitions

3.1.1 Herd type categorisations

We have access to three herd type categorisations:

  • one assigned to a herd on AHCS:

    • Dairy
    • Beef
    • Suckler
    • Other

  • Brock et al. (2021) created two model based herd categorisation. Brock et al. (2022) used these to explore enterprises from 2015 to 2019, here we expand on this work and additionally explore more years of data. The original categorisation included Seasonal herd-types but these are now no longer included. They have moved into Traders or Fatteners respectively, based on their profiles. The algorithm used in the original study has since been slightly modified (see updated decision tree below, taken from Brock et al. (2022)). The Brock classifications for this study used this revised algorithm.

    The main Brock et al. herd types are:

    • Dairy
    • Beef
    • Store
    • Fattener
    • Mixed
    • Trader
    • Unknown

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    and the Brock et al. sub-classes are:

    • Dairy
    • Dairy no rearing - contract
    • Dairy non rearing - no contract
    • Dairy rearing females
    • Dairy rearing male calves
    • Beef pedigree
    • Beef suckling to beef
    • Beef suckling to weanlings
    • Beef suckling to youngstock
    • Beef suckling to youngstock - no rearing
    • Store beef females
    • Store beef males
    • Store beef mixed
    • Store dairy males
    • Fattener
    • Mixed
    • Trader
    • Unknown

The following is the revised decision tree for Brock et al. Also included is the original decision tree from the paper.

Figure 3.1: Revised decision tree/algorithm of Brock et al. used for classifying herds
Figure 3.2: Original decision tree/algorithm of Brock et al. used for classifying herds

Revised decision tree description, taken from Fig 1:

A decision tree for the classification of the Irish cattle sector adapted from [11]. Histograms represent herds remaining at the respective node (decision variable). Numbers and dashed line demarcate thresholds for class assignment. Main herd types: dairy (D), beef (B), mixed (M), store/rearing (S/R), fattening (F), and trading (T) herds. Dairy sub-types: dairy (D), dairy no rearing—contract (DnR-C), dairy no rearing—no contract (DnR-nC), dairy rearing male calves (DRm). Beef sub-types: beef pedigree (BP), beef suckling to weanlings (BSW), beef suckling to youngstock (BSY), beef suckling to youngstock—no rearing (BSY-nR), beef suckling to beef (BSB). Store/rearing sub-types: store dairy males (Sdm), store beef males (Sbm), Store beef females (Sbf), store beef mixed (Sbmx), rearing dairy females (Rdf). In each of the years between 2015 and 2019, an average of 95% of Irish herds were classified by the left tree, 5% by the right.

Original decision tree description, taken from Fig 5:

A decision tree for the classification of the Irish cattle sector. Histograms represent herds remaining at the respective node. Numbers and dashed line demarcate thresholds for class assignment. Main herd types: dairy (D), beef (B), mixed (M), store/rearing (S/R), fattening (F), and trading (T) herds. Dairy sub-types: dairy (D), dairy no rearing—contract (DnR-C), dairy no rearing—no contract (DnR-nC), dairy rearing male calves (DRm). Beef sub-types: beef pedigree (BP), beef suckling to weanlings (BSW), beef suckling to youngstock (BSY), beef suckling to youngstock—no rearing (BSY-nR), beef suckling to beef (BSB). Store/rearing sub-types: store dairy males (Sdm), store beef males (Sbm), Store beef females (Sbf), store beef mixed (Sbmx), rearing dairy females (Rdf). The grey rectangles among the thresholds indicate the range in which the classification threshold would have to be moved in order to assign 10% of the herds classified in the respective step to the other class.

The following is a brief summary of the main Brock et al. herd-types:

Dairy

  • Residency in the herd is longer than 30 days for at least 50% of the herd.
  • Proportion of animals in a herd that have ever calved by September, relative to herd size is greater than 25%.
  • 66% or more of the animals are of a dairy breed.

Beef

  • (generally just suckler from AHCS)
  • Residency in the herd is longer than 30 days for at least 50% of the herd
  • Proportion of animals in a herd that have ever calved by September, relative to herd size is greater than 25%.
  • Less than 33% of the animals are of a dairy breed.

Mixed

  • Residency in the herd is longer than 30 days for at least 50% of the herd.
  • Proportion of animals in a herd that have ever calved by September, relative to herd size is greater than 25%.
  • 33% or more of the animals and less than 66% are of a dairy breed.

Store

  • Residency in the herd is longer than 30 days for at least 50% of the herd.
  • Less than 25% of the animals in the herd have calved in the past
  • Less than 50% of the animals in the herd go directly to slaughter

Fattener

  • Residency in the herd is longer than 30 days for at least 50% of the herd.
  • Proportion of animals in a herd that have ever calved by September, relative to herd size is greater than 25%.
  • 50% or more of the animals in the herd go directly to slaughter.

Trader

  • 50% or more of the animals spend less than 30 days in the herd.

Seasonal

  • Animals are kept in the herd for only part of the year. (As of 2024, “seasonal” is no longer a category - they have been moved into “trader” and “fattener” categories respectively). The ‘seasonal’ herds are those in the top right of the diagram – basically any herd that had animals at at least one of but fewer than three of 1st January, May, September.

Unknown - Herds that didnt have animals in them at any of the three time points (1st January, May, September)

3.1.2 Relationship of all herd-type categorisations (based on 2023 data)

Figure 3.3: Relationship of all herd-type categorisations (based on 2023 data).

3.2 Changes in herd-types over time

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3.2.1 AHCS herd type

Figure 3.4: Proportion of herd types for Ireland over time.

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3.2.2 AHCS herd type by county

Figure 3.5: Proportion of herd types by county over time.

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3.2.3 Brock et al. herd type

Figure 3.6: Proportion of Brock et al. herd types for Ireland over time.

3.2.4 Brock et al. herd type by county

Figure 3.7: Proportion of Brock et al. herd-types by county over time.

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3.2.5 Newly established herds - AHCS herd types

To explore any potential impact of the removal of milk quotas (2015), the distribution of newly established herds were plotted (particularly to see if there was an increase in dairy herds). Here, newly established herds were herds that did not have a SICTT before 2015 (but had at least one after 2015). This may be slightly different to an official list provided by DAFM but it should be a very close approximation (we believe).

Figure 3.8: Proportion of newly established herds by AHCS herd type over time

3.2.6 Newly established herds - AHCS herd types by county

Figure 3.9: Proportion of newly established herds by AHCS herd type over time.

3.2.7 Newly established herds - Brock et al. herd types

Figure 3.10: Proportion of newly established herds by Brock et al. herd type over time.

3.2.8 Newly established herds - Brock et al. herd types by county

Figure 3.11: Proportion of newly established herds by type and over time.

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3.3 Bovine population (usually a year lag)

3.3.1 Brock et al.

3.3.2 January:

Figure 3.12: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st Jan.

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3.3.3 May:

Figure 3.13: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st May.

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3.3.4 September:

Figure 3.14: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st Sep.

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3.3.5 Proportion of animals by herd-type

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Figure 3.15: Proportion of all animals on 1st May by the herd-type they are residing in.

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3.3.6 Brock et al. sub-classes

3.3.7 January:

Figure 3.16: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st Jan.

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3.3.8 May:

Figure 3.17: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st May.

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3.3.9 September:

Figure 3.18: No. of animals by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in the herd on 1st Sep.

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3.4 Median herd size

3.4.1 Brock et al. herd-types

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Figure 3.19: Median herd size by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in all herds on 1st May.

3.4.2 Brock et al. sub-class herd-types

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Figure 3.20: Median herd size by herd-type based on the number of animals residing in all herds on 1st May.

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3.5 Tables

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3.5.1 Herd demographics

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Table 3.1: Bovine herd-demographics

Variable

level

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

No. of herds

116850

115850

114583

114809

114573

114364

113250

113633

112973

112400

110828

109509

108574

108076

106378

104897

103761

101923

Controlled finishing units

96 (0.08)

135 (0.12)

170 (0.15)

207 (0.18)

228 (0.20)

234 (0.20)

278 (0.25)

342 (0.30)

397 (0.35)

393 (0.35)

425 (0.38)

449 (0.41)

443 (0.41)

459 (0.42)

423 (0.40)

369 (0.35)

409 (0.39)

-

AHCS herd type

Dairy

17083 (14.6)

17110 (14.8)

17069 (14.9)

17194 (15)

17230 (15)

17261 (15.1)

17286 (15.3)

17327 (15.2)

17299 (15.3)

17285 (15.4)

17198 (15.5)

17165 (15.7)

17061 (15.7)

17013 (15.7)

16968 (16)

16839 (16.1)

16764 (16.2)

16569 (16.3)

Beef

25251 (21.6)

25313 (21.9)

25338 (22.1)

25775 (22.5)

26376 (23)

26705 (23.4)

26674 (23.6)

27614 (24.3)

27824 (24.6)

28078 (25)

27804 (25.1)

27530 (25.1)

27515 (25.3)

27877 (25.8)

27571 (25.9)

27385 (26.1)

27436 (26.5)

26996 (26.5)

Suckler

65050 (55.7)

64193 (55.4)

63085 (55.1)

62854 (54.8)

62151 (54.3)

61645 (53.9)

60714 (53.6)

60243 (53)

59572 (52.7)

58854 (52.4)

57872 (52.2)

57049 (52.1)

56374 (51.9)

55758 (51.6)

54593 (51.3)

53634 (51.1)

52640 (50.7)

51724 (50.7)

Other

9454 (8.1)

9228 (8)

9066 (7.9)

8972 (7.8)

8798 (7.7)

8739 (7.6)

8565 (7.6)

8444 (7.4)

8272 (7.3)

8168 (7.3)

7942 (7.2)

7757 (7.1)

7607 (7)

7409 (6.9)

7225 (6.8)

7015 (6.7)

6887 (6.6)

6633 (6.5)

Brock et al. herd type

Dairy

11159 (9.6)

11720 (10.1)

12202 (10.7)

13201 (11.5)

13679 (12)

13675 (12)

13639 (12.1)

13434 (11.8)

13391 (11.9)

12934 (11.5)

12410 (11.2)

12381 (11.3)

12191 (11.2)

12452 (11.5)

12511 (11.8)

12034 (11.5)

11397 (11.1)

11370 (11.3)

Beef

65071 (55.9)

63746 (55.1)

61816 (54)

60399 (52.7)

59729 (52.2)

59485 (52.1)

57905 (51.2)

56573 (49.9)

55636 (49.3)

54466 (48.6)

53571 (48.4)

52029 (47.5)

51008 (47)

49281 (45.7)

47788 (45)

45814 (43.7)

43922 (42.6)

43759 (43.5)

Store

10365 (8.9)

11291 (9.8)

10792 (9.4)

12101 (10.6)

14374 (12.6)

14254 (12.5)

14969 (13.2)

16189 (14.3)

16079 (14.3)

16335 (14.6)

16041 (14.5)

16794 (15.3)

16754 (15.4)

18952 (17.6)

18966 (17.8)

19751 (18.8)

20008 (19.4)

19552 (19.5)

Fattener

16977 (14.6)

16960 (14.7)

17367 (15.2)

16491 (14.4)

15049 (13.2)

15574 (13.6)

16545 (14.6)

15702 (13.8)

16353 (14.5)

16867 (15)

16918 (15.3)

17121 (15.6)

17142 (15.8)

16882 (15.6)

17500 (16.5)

17220 (16.4)

17402 (16.9)

17021 (16.9)

Mixed

7379 (6.3)

6540 (5.7)

5723 (5)

5182 (4.5)

5180 (4.5)

5129 (4.5)

5049 (4.5)

5247 (4.6)

5302 (4.7)

5279 (4.7)

5362 (4.8)

5101 (4.7)

5265 (4.9)

4965 (4.6)

4642 (4.4)

4734 (4.5)

4839 (4.7)

4825 (4.8)

Trader

719 (0.6)

792 (0.7)

812 (0.7)

979 (0.9)

1056 (0.9)

1077 (0.9)

981 (0.9)

1021 (0.9)

965 (0.9)

920 (0.8)

869 (0.8)

839 (0.8)

869 (0.8)

813 (0.8)

818 (0.8)

835 (0.8)

767 (0.7)

736 (0.7)

Unknown

4673 (4)

4575 (4)

5698 (5)

6313 (5.5)

5290 (4.6)

5001 (4.4)

4054 (3.6)

5290 (4.7)

5091 (4.5)

5343 (4.8)

5490 (5)

5156 (4.7)

5230 (4.8)

4592 (4.3)

4081 (3.8)

4425 (4.2)

4652 (4.5)

3231 (3.2)

Brock et al. herd type (subclass)

Dairy

6218 (5.3)

6335 (5.5)

6885 (6)

8313 (7.2)

8485 (7.4)

7564 (6.6)

7790 (6.9)

8146 (7.2)

7962 (7.1)

7770 (6.9)

7287 (6.6)

7411 (6.8)

7290 (6.7)

7674 (7.1)

7720 (7.3)

7586 (7.2)

7317 (7.1)

7309 (7.3)

Dairy no rearing - contract

255 (0.2)

327 (0.3)

405 (0.4)

544 (0.5)

654 (0.6)

716 (0.6)

833 (0.7)

913 (0.8)

930 (0.8)

924 (0.8)

928 (0.8)

1053 (1)

1079 (1)

1099 (1)

1225 (1.2)

1229 (1.2)

1203 (1.2)

1203 (1.2)

Dairy non rearing - no contract

577 (0.5)

561 (0.5)

520 (0.5)

533 (0.5)

547 (0.5)

497 (0.4)

545 (0.5)

672 (0.6)

757 (0.7)

799 (0.7)

892 (0.8)

941 (0.9)

977 (0.9)

991 (0.9)

856 (0.8)

902 (0.9)

918 (0.9)

896 (0.9)

Dairy rearing females

63 (0.1)

89 (0.1)

106 (0.1)

176 (0.2)

259 (0.2)

290 (0.3)

361 (0.3)

414 (0.4)

413 (0.4)

439 (0.4)

412 (0.4)

515 (0.5)

562 (0.5)

559 (0.5)

625 (0.6)

628 (0.6)

581 (0.6)

576 (0.6)

Dairy rearing male calves

4109 (3.5)

4497 (3.9)

4392 (3.8)

3811 (3.3)

3993 (3.5)

4898 (4.3)

4471 (4)

3703 (3.3)

3742 (3.3)

3441 (3.1)

3303 (3)

2976 (2.7)

2845 (2.6)

2688 (2.5)

2710 (2.5)

2317 (2.2)

1959 (1.9)

1962 (2)

Beef pedigree

3147 (2.7)

2700 (2.3)

2564 (2.2)

2443 (2.1)

2269 (2)

2185 (1.9)

2194 (1.9)

2186 (1.9)

2148 (1.9)

2128 (1.9)

2171 (2)

2217 (2)

2181 (2)

2196 (2)

2241 (2.1)

2245 (2.1)

2298 (2.2)

2286 (2.3)

Beef suckling to beef

9896 (8.5)

9322 (8.1)

8401 (7.3)

7287 (6.4)

6863 (6)

7185 (6.3)

7027 (6.2)

6372 (5.6)

6515 (5.8)

6131 (5.5)

6368 (5.8)

6194 (5.7)

5963 (5.5)

5063 (4.7)

5039 (4.7)

4761 (4.5)

4512 (4.4)

4497 (4.5)

Beef suckling to weanlings

28629 (24.6)

27857 (24.1)

27918 (24.4)

31641 (27.6)

32909 (28.8)

28932 (25.3)

28102 (24.8)

30354 (26.8)

29258 (25.9)

29099 (25.9)

28018 (25.3)

27357 (25)

25969 (23.9)

26440 (24.5)

25545 (24)

24374 (23.3)

23031 (22.4)

22910 (22.8)

Beef suckling to youngstock

18280 (15.7)

18834 (16.3)

18154 (15.9)

14866 (13)

13727 (12)

16934 (14.8)

16285 (14.4)

13750 (12.1)

14076 (12.5)

13595 (12.1)

13702 (12.4)

13018 (11.9)

13619 (12.6)

12487 (11.6)

11889 (11.2)

11615 (11.1)

11336 (11)

11324 (11.3)

Beef suckling to youngstock - no rearing

5119 (4.4)

5033 (4.4)

4779 (4.2)

4162 (3.6)

3961 (3.5)

4249 (3.7)

4297 (3.8)

3911 (3.4)

3639 (3.2)

3513 (3.1)

3312 (3)

3243 (3)

3276 (3)

3095 (2.9)

3074 (2.9)

2819 (2.7)

2745 (2.7)

2742 (2.7)

Store beef females

2456 (2.1)

2527 (2.2)

2750 (2.4)

3323 (2.9)

3642 (3.2)

3427 (3)

3805 (3.4)

4135 (3.6)

3969 (3.5)

4148 (3.7)

4255 (3.8)

4632 (4.2)

4432 (4.1)

4837 (4.5)

4723 (4.4)

5086 (4.9)

5322 (5.2)

5189 (5.2)

Store beef males

4651 (4)

5186 (4.5)

4462 (3.9)

4688 (4.1)

5329 (4.7)

5178 (4.5)

5374 (4.7)

5718 (5)

5500 (4.9)

5629 (5)

5705 (5.2)

5991 (5.5)

5724 (5.3)

6432 (6)

6446 (6.1)

6696 (6.4)

6874 (6.7)

6723 (6.7)

Store beef mixed

2373 (2)

2475 (2.1)

2383 (2.1)

2355 (2.1)

2390 (2.1)

2533 (2.2)

2766 (2.4)

3112 (2.7)

3166 (2.8)

3378 (3)

3391 (3.1)

3417 (3.1)

3713 (3.4)

4312 (4)

4338 (4.1)

4825 (4.6)

5202 (5.1)

5114 (5.1)

Store dairy males

822 (0.7)

1014 (0.9)

1091 (1)

1559 (1.4)

2754 (2.4)

2826 (2.5)

2663 (2.4)

2810 (2.5)

3031 (2.7)

2741 (2.4)

2278 (2.1)

2239 (2)

2323 (2.1)

2812 (2.6)

2834 (2.7)

2516 (2.4)

2029 (2)

1950 (1.9)

Fattener

16977 (14.6)

16960 (14.7)

17367 (15.2)

16491 (14.4)

15049 (13.2)

15574 (13.6)

16545 (14.6)

15702 (13.8)

16353 (14.5)

16867 (15)

16918 (15.3)

17121 (15.6)

17142 (15.8)

16882 (15.6)

17500 (16.5)

17220 (16.4)

17402 (16.9)

17021 (16.9)

Mixed

7379 (6.3)

6540 (5.7)

5723 (5)

5182 (4.5)

5180 (4.5)

5129 (4.5)

5049 (4.5)

5247 (4.6)

5302 (4.7)

5279 (4.7)

5362 (4.8)

5101 (4.7)

5265 (4.9)

4965 (4.6)

4642 (4.4)

4734 (4.5)

4839 (4.7)

4825 (4.8)

Trader

719 (0.6)

792 (0.7)

812 (0.7)

979 (0.9)

1056 (0.9)

1077 (0.9)

981 (0.9)

1021 (0.9)

965 (0.9)

920 (0.8)

869 (0.8)

839 (0.8)

869 (0.8)

813 (0.8)

818 (0.8)

835 (0.8)

767 (0.7)

736 (0.7)

Unknown

4673 (4)

4575 (4)

5698 (5)

6313 (5.5)

5290 (4.6)

5001 (4.4)

4054 (3.6)

5290 (4.7)

5091 (4.5)

5343 (4.8)

5490 (5)

5156 (4.7)

5230 (4.8)

4592 (4.3)

4081 (3.8)

4425 (4.2)

4652 (4.5)

3231 (3.2)

AHCS: Animal Health Computer System;
No. of herds: count of unique herd numbers that had at least one SICTT or IFN-γ
Controlled finishing units (CFUs): only have data up to 2023
AHCS herd type: herd type that is assigned to the herd administratively on AHCS
Population figures are based on the number of animals which were in each herd type (Brock et al.) on 1st of January, May, September of each year using the Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM)
Proportion values represent the proportion of herds within each herd classifications within a given year (i.e., vertical) whereas in the case of CFUs, they represent the proportion in each year (i.e., horizontal)

3.5.2 Bovine population

Table 3.2: Bovine herd population

Variable

level

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

Population on 1st Jan

Dairy

1367575

1502824

1615524

1734439

1809163

1906008

1942466

1933583

1998592

2033358

2028074

2057093

2072500

2134047

2214896

2188426

2073765

-

Beef

2850078

2876134

2724624

2504730

2438247

2577567

2472821

2374840

2406707

2419156

2389251

2308579

2242210

2117954

2080578

2010079

1932266

-

Store

246749

274562

264020

263069

318953

343447

350114

378437

396162

427575

415643

422699

423982

512453

536206

553411

583418

-

Fattener

716438

728852

729614

681909

660596

711900

793466

769290

811058

873596

913456

927463

877312

866848

949347

943805

961333

-

Mixed

856976

755092

658400

561711

550856

566130

576914

604287

632685

662757

716953

676115

713379

670477

653938

702715

740023

-

Trader

36988

27858

25920

29095

28899

34801

32039

28734

27307

26210

25517

25744

26046

30662

35123

30497

36511

-

Unknown

23260

20460

24269

25909

23572

21478

23261

29008

29118

29632

29273

23141

23443

23037

29624

29992

32297

-

Population on 1st May

Dairy

1552217

1699630

1799097

1974683

2101886

2204567

2227429

2242701

2358283

2366354

2358676

2378598

2429228

2512759

2617343

2555695

2433106

-

Beef

3178424

3111140

2897018

2724076

2751266

2825077

2665987

2615058

2655232

2646529

2603318

2475192

2467570

2326232

2265557

2194375

2093140

-

Store

287932

318303

291958

321806

406544

400702

415919

478905

499878

530599

508581

516868

545990

672379

658694

685864

709222

-

Fattener

752440

773167

748817

732948

727392

744489

822037

824725

863803

969819

975888

990594

926640

968895

1033537

1045577

1036088

-

Mixed

966737

847470

721909

630940

636982

639160

650229

696242

737973

767838

824543

776298

830615

785857

761744

823190

867511

-

Trader

50851

41854

40098

42814

45057

56141

48464

46976

48418

49573

48664

45593

42032

54590

58127

64749

65378

-

Unknown

9153

9350

9575

11917

8884

7727

10422

11053

11290

12976

8846

7912

8642

11337

10669

13067

12136

-

Population on 1st Sep

Dairy

1463466

1596443

1679818

1853398

1980453

2045178

2064129

2092979

2189876

2200278

2155999

2190796

2205312

2299342

2391067

2316233

2178093

-

Beef

3194641

3117970

2861557

2752436

2801101

2798780

2687627

2650833

2688890

2651033

2600515

2508385

2442139

2347676

2278172

2205492

2088539

-

Store

287845

309555

280841

319231

404356

400660

409165

473959

492719

505614

498396

507516

540984

643460

637816

674896

686453

-

Fattener

701416

705259

687908

666451

673188

706870

737401

755400

803087

874367

879160

877406

856198

902305

930531

910880

937476

-

Mixed

923914

808121

682149

608312

614151

607974

617479

663807

701795

729383

773476

733158

773738

736898

716364

766948

798839

-

Trader

43155

38246

34486

37230

42654

48350

40276

40022

43135

38842

38455

36908

41418

41220

50901

43361

50029

-

Unknown

26528

23526

28911

29074

31105

27692

18585

33952

25457

23831

21658

19430

27252

22223

21347

23956

16820

-

Population on 1st Jan (sub-classes)

Dairy

683355

731608

829025

1020822

1033614

949335

1023027

1092080

1124827

1153217

1144158

1171600

1202493

1277085

1318949

1328555

1295566

-

Dairy no rearing - contract

42785

56249

71467

95704

121360

132138

153014

178317

180238

190124

196582

233863

245702

257760

289284

298578

291466

-

Dairy non rearing - no contract

30462

27960

26318

24682

23298

23053

24102

36526

42352

49429

59016

64304

73756

75329

65725

83744

78464

-

Dairy rearing females

2971

4733

4744

7527

11055

11738

14203

16672

18813

19735

20279

23725

27808

27965

34258

34041

33693

-

Dairy rearing male calves

610973

687007

688714

593231

630891

801482

742323

626660

651175

640588

628318

587326

550549

523873

540938

477549

408269

-

Beef pedigree

102929

90855

85457

79343

72866

76117

78858

77405

78101

79153

81833

85045

85202

84596

85487

84509

85635

-

Beef suckling to beef

674897

654019

582892

497006

468810

508405

519887

472093

508541

489223

516108

502495

446287

368149

381222

374270

350921

-

Beef suckling to weanlings

849696

852210

842724

958277

1001437

889235

817888

904727

900496

930573

875834

862227

808410

833089

804963

762390

730674

-

Beef suckling to youngstock

1042138

1103251

1049623

831121

762070

956297

908281

781643

795853

798924

805049

749653

794173

727056

698430

688492

671993

-

Beef suckling to youngstock - no rearing

180418

175799

163928

138983

133064

147513

147907

138972

123716

121283

110427

109159

108138

105064

110476

100418

93043

-

Store beef females

43372

42648

44994

52670

55206

53949

59188

63554

64323

69563

70632

73619

71832

83043

79842

85951

93193

-

Store beef males

85404

96641

85076

77289

92129

94604

92942

99006

98128

101560

100960

98440

97316

114667

119551

124525

131468

-

Store beef mixed

85957

92784

87151

76544

78422

82845

90713

102627

109719

127704

131442

130783

135365

164385

174306

198619

233900

-

Store dairy males

29045

37756

42055

49039

82141

100311

93068

96578

105179

109013

92330

96132

91661

122393

128249

110275

91164

-

Fattener

716438

728852

729614

681909

660596

711900

793466

769290

811058

873596

913456

927463

877312

866848

949347

943805

961333

-

Mixed

856976

755092

658400

561711

550856

566130

576914

604287

632685

662757

716953

676115

713379

670477

653938

702715

740023

-

Trader

36988

27858

25920

29095

28899

34801

32039

28734

27307

26210

25517

25744

26046

30662

35123

30497

36511

-

Unknown

23260

20460

24269

25909

23572

21478

23261

29008

29118

29632

29273

23141

23443

23037

29624

29992

32297

-

Population on 1st May (sub-classes)

Dairy

771618

822703

923217

1161737

1194635

1090256

1166030

1259639

1317376

1331531

1320979

1348377

1408228

1494996

1545638

1542539

1516481

-

Dairy no rearing - contract

49932

65705

81020

111067

144521

158937

180365

213744

221677

227313

238680

275554

294341

311468

355295

356444

351931

-

Dairy non rearing - no contract

34464

31945

31250

29867

30255

28595

30235

44281

51919

58204

68247

76797

85375

89681

76283

96964

88089

-

Dairy rearing females

3946

6284

6402

10277

14595

14710

17160

21400

21618

24561

23233

31535

36048

37390

44158

44571

41088

-

Dairy rearing male calves

696203

779277

763610

672012

732475

926779

850799

725037

767311

749306

730770

677870

641284

616614

640127

559748

476605

-

Beef pedigree

109626

94977

88367

82488

77644

80732

81718

80732

81977

82624

85933

87589

89340

87880

87883

86327

87947

-

Beef suckling to beef

713059

686537

599164

517938

503366

534804

536834

498653

533879

525720

547052

525803

466360

391164

409870

401481

372308

-

Beef suckling to weanlings

982923

939221

912180

1064409

1156307

990949

904132

1017454

1013860

1028783

967539

934129

909236

930642

882625

838878

799698

-

Beef suckling to youngstock

1170869

1201421

1123929

908448

862975

1059366

986900

865905

889534

876524

882845

811514

884400

800386

765409

758731

731715

-

Beef suckling to youngstock - no rearing

201947

188984

173378

150793

150974

159226

156403

152314

135982

132878

119949

116157

118234

116160

119770

108958

101472

-

Store beef females

49517

48867

49834

61417

66632

61639

69284

79253

76049

82397

81935

87144

85511

101657

93308

103427

110758

-

Store beef males

103478

115304

95955

97097

117725

108871

113001

124621

121698

130518

126176

126447

128559

153485

148934

157092

163074

-

Store beef mixed

95630

103442

90579

87087

92203

92284

101846

126383

133370

152025

154996

152738

166258

207666

206994

243645

283898

-

Store dairy males

35361

44406

49188

65928

115389

123198

114628

127248

147143

141098

122241

119004

129614

172181

165300

137129

110404

-

Fattener

752440

773167

748817

732948

727392

744489

822037

824725

863803

969819

975888

990594

926640

968895

1033537

1045577

1036088

-

Mixed

966737

847470

721909

630940

636982

639160

650229

696242

737973

767838

824543

776298

830615

785857

761744

823190

867511

-

Trader

50851

41854

40098

42814

45057

56141

48464

46976

48418

49573

48664

45593

42032

54590

58127

64749

65378

-

Unknown

9153

9350

9575

11917

8884

7727

10422

11053

11290

12976

8846

7912

8642

11337

10669

13067

12136

-

Population on 1st Sep (sub-classes)

Dairy

731586

776824

868377

1094668

1128669

1016948

1086556

1185991

1232261

1245053

1216457

1255506

1291420

1386189

1430133

1413748

1373369

-

Dairy no rearing - contract

45024

57884

72658

97689

129083

138031

156538

187479

194252

200427

204966

235933

249846

268011

302636

304707

294727

-

Dairy non rearing - no contract

29659

27301

25462

25186

25725

24541

25808

37541

45089

49687

58613

65509

71682

74199

65266

80595

73323

-

Dairy rearing females

4518

7301

7329

11376

16449

17098

21503

25563

25470

28294

28236

39739

43583

44872

52487

52678

50003

-

Dairy rearing male calves

657197

734434

713321

635855

696976

865658

795227

681968

718274

705111

675963

633848

592364

570943

593032

517183

436674

-

Beef pedigree

109069

93398

86010

81907

78572

79319

81206

81061

82241

82414

84808

89215

87950

87896

87420

86798

86805

-

Beef suckling to beef

704472

672140

581212

506106

500490

527215

517940

487497

523928

507230

526056

507950

450708

384156

396687

378066

354676

-

Beef suckling to weanlings

1022692

972830

934076

1111053

1206466

1005569

947321

1065912

1059239

1063540

1001040

982842

930808

967285

916048

875627

826531

-

Beef suckling to youngstock

1155430

1188050

1089190

900679

863072

1028551

982902

861681

884318

864699

867902

809499

855254

790993

757810

754029

718523

-

Beef suckling to youngstock - no rearing

202978

191552

171069

152691

152501

158126

158258

154682

139164

133150

120709

118879

117419

117346

120207

110972

102004

-

Store beef females

51390

49440

49219

62793

68464

64029

70908

81399

77383

81773

84515

89382

88693

101149

94443

105267

111420

-

Store beef males

104432

112835

92943

95658

116133

110297

112728

124029

120549

121676

125555

124378

124303

145582

145127

155229

157649

-

Store beef mixed

92648

98057

85104

84902

90458

90322

97308

121965

129177

143714

146243

143442

161918

193022

194070

230913

263367

-

Store dairy males

34857

41922

46246

64502

112852

118914

106718

121003

140140

130157

113847

110575

122487

158835

151689

130809

104014

-

Fattener

701416

705259

687908

666451

673188

706870

737401

755400

803087

874367

879160

877406

856198

902305

930531

910880

937476

-

Mixed

923914

808121

682149

608312

614151

607974

617479

663807

701795

729383

773476

733158

773738

736898

716364

766948

798839

-

Trader

43155

38246

34486

37230

42654

48350

40276

40022

43135

38842

38455

36908

41418

41220

50901

43361

50029

-

Unknown

26528

23526

28911

29074

31105

27692

18585

33952

25457

23831

21658

19430

27252

22223

21347

23956

16820

-

Brock et al. herd types currently only available for certain years (ref: Brock J, Lange M, Tratalos JA, More SJ, Graham DA, Guelbenzu-Gonzalo M, et al. Combining expert knowledge and machine-learning to classify herd types in livestock systems. Sci Rep. 2021;11(1):2989.)
Population figures are based on the number of animals which were in each herd type (Brock et al.) on 1st of January, May, September of each year using the Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM)
Proportion values represent the proportion of all animals within each herd classifications within a given year (i.e., vertical)