United Kingdom - Organic Statistics 2008

UK - There have been significant increases in the numbers of cattle, sheep and pigs reared to organic standards between 2007 and 2008, while organic poultry numbers have fallen slightly.

26 August 2009

2 minute read

Europe

The latest National Statistics produced by Defra on the organic farming sector were released on 20 August 2009, according to the arrangements approved by the UK Statistics Authority. The full report shows information gathered during 2008 for organic crops and livestock produced in the United Kingdom, and the numbers of organic producers / processors who are registered with Organic Certification Bodies in the UK.

For organic animal numbers, the table shows that for cattle, sheep and pigs, the general trend has been for numbers to increase by 30 to 40 per cent between 2007 and 2008. The numbers of organic poultry have fallen by two per cent, and there has been a significant drop in the number of organic goats kept in the UK over the same period.

Organic livestock numbers in the UK
	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	Change 2008/2007 (%)
Cattle	126,813	174,751	214,276	244,752	250,376	319,587	27.6
Sheep	440,674	571,615	691,000	747,299	863,122	1,178,306	36.5
Pigs	48,803	43,733	29,995	32,926	50,435	71,229	41.2
Poultry	2,166,152	2,431,555	3,439,548	4,421,326	4,440,698	4,362,939	-1.8
Goats	699	513	544	585	539	409	-24.1
Other livestock	1,015	1,183	1,486	4,318	3,415	4,372	28.0