Cattle population down by 373

According to data from the Bovine Register, cattle stocks on 1 December 2013 declined by 2.4 per cent, or 373 heads, compared to a year earlier.

Bovines less than one year old decreased by 11.2 per cent, while those between one and two years of age and bovines over two years old (excluding cows) advanced by 2.6 and 9.9 per cent respectively.

Cows, representing 42.2 per cent of the total cattle stock, registered a marginal increase of 0.1 per cent.

In 2013, 290 holdings were engaged in rearing cattle, of which 126 were involved in milk production. These farms collectively held 14,170 cattle, or 93.1 per cent of the total stock.

The majority of farms had between three and 29 cattle on the holding (41.4 per cent). The total cattle in these farms amounted to 1,188 or 7.8 per cent of the population. In contrast, 20.0 per cent of all cattle farms were considered large, each with at least 100 heads. These farms comprised 10,730 heads, or 70.5 per cent of the total stock.

On a regional level, 10,041 cattle (66.0 per cent) were found on Maltese farms, of which 35.6 per cent or 3,570 heads were located in the South Eastern district. The remaining 5,179 heads, or 34.0 per cent, were found on farms in Gozo and Comino.