§ Miss Quennellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he now estimates the figures for the national herds of milking cows, sheep and lambs, beef animals and pigs to be; and how these compare with those for last year.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe June, 1972, census figures for the United Kingdom will not be available until early August, but the following table sets out the results of the March, 1971 and 1972 sample censuses, and incorporates estimates of cattle and sheep in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Dairy Herd Cows and heifers in milk and cows in calf but not in milk. 1972 3,324,000 1971 3,267,000 Dairy Heifers* 1st calf 1972 601,000 1971 583,000 Beef Herd Cows and heifers in milk and cows in calf but not in milk. 1972 1,446,000 1971 1,334,000 Beef Heifers* 1st calf 1972 197,000 1971 160,000 Beef Cattle† One year old and over 1972 3,610,000 1971 3,397,000 Under 1 year old 1972 3,846,000 1971 3,614,000 Sheep and Lambs 1972 15,694,000 1971 15,324,000 Pigs 1972 8 700,000 1971 8,637,000 * Great Britain only. Includes animals intended as replacements for either beef or dairy herd.