MILK production for the last month of 2017 grew by 4 per cent to over 2.2 billion litres, while sheep and pig numbers in the north are now at record levels according to new figures.
The December Agricultural Survey from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs provides estimates of the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs on farms at the beginning of December. In addition, it provides information on levels of hay and silage production and sowings of winter cereals.
The dairy herd stood at 312,500 cows in December, which was marginally up on dairy cow numbers recorded in the same month in 2016, but little different from the total herd size in 2015. Milk production was 4 per cent higher than 2016 reaching a record volume of 2.284 billion litres.
The number of beef cows recorded in December was 258,400, a decrease of 2 per cent compared with the previous year, while the figures show there were a total 1.623 million cattle in Northern Ireland at the end of the year, which is little changed from 2016.
In terms of sheep the number of breeding ewes increased by 3 per cent, but the number of ewe lambs tupped fell by 7 per cent. The total breeding flock recorded in December stood at 927,700, a level not exceeded since December 2005. Lambs present on farms in December decreased by 1 per cent from 2016, when the number of lambs was at a seven year high. Overall, the total number of sheep recorded in December 2017 was 1.381 million, which is the highest level recorded since December 2004.
The pig breeding herd stood at 47,400 in December, 8 per cent higher than the previous year. Overall, the pig herd was 18 per cent bigger than in December 2016 with 631,100 pigs recorded. This was mainly a result of growth in the number of fattening pigs (up 19 per cent), including pigs imported to Northern Ireland for finishing.
Total pig numbers in December were at the highest year-end level observed since 1985.
The area of hay saved decreased by almost two-fifths in 2017 to approximately 7,000 hectares, the lowest level ever recorded, with yields also tumbling to a 15 year low. As a consequence overall production was down to 46,000 tonnes, some 43 per cent lower than in 2016.
The production of silage in 2017 recovered slightly on 2016 levels to reach approximately 8.8 million tonnes. However, poor weather conditions hampered second and third cut silage making and this was reflected in a drop in average yields for 2017 to 29.5 tonnes per hectare, the lowest yield recorded in 12 years.
