Scotland was the only part of the UK to witness an increase in the number of sheep in its national flock last year.
Final estimates from this year’s UK-wide June agricultural census, published by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), reveal a 2.6% decrease in the UK sheep population, compared to 2019 figures, to 32.7 million animals.
Scotland was the only country to experience an increase in numbers – up by 0.8% – while England, Northern Ireland and Wales experienced decreases of 2.4%, 1.3% and 5.7% respectively.
UK-wide cattle numbers were also down by 1.3% to 9.6m animals.
Numbers remained the same in Northern Ireland, and were up 0.2% in Wales. However, Scotland and England experienced decreases of 0.9% and 2.1% respectively.
Other results from the census reveal a 0.5% decrease in the UK pig herd to 5m animals, while UK-wide poultry numbers decreased by 2.7% to 182m birds.
UK wheat production decreased by 40% to 9.7m tonnes, while oilseed rape production fell by 41% to just over 1m tonnes.
Total barley production increased by 0.9% to 8.1m tonnes, with winter barley down 46% and spring barley up 38%, while oats production was down 4.1% to 1m tonnes.