UK dairy population: 2024 figures mark the lowest on record

The GB milking herd totalled 1.64 million head as of October 2024, the lowest October number recorded, and a 0.9% decrease compared to the same month the previous year. The GB herd total came to 2.55 million head, a year-on-year decline of 1.5%. A fall was seen across all age groups, with the exception of the 2–4-year age bracket. Culling of older cows helped to maintain the average age of a cow in the GB milking herd at 4.55 years, very slightly younger than last year’s figure. Dairy cows between 2-4 years of age were the only category to see an increase, having risen by 2,000 head (+0.3%) year-on-year, as calves born from the youngstock boom of 2021 progress into the milking herd. All other age categories of the GB milking herd recorded year-on-year declines in numbers. The greatest change was seen in the youngstock group (<2 years old), which decreased by 23,000 head (2.5%). This downward trend has generally been the case since October 2022. This is likely to be a reflection of ...