Scotland census finds cattle numbers up year on year
Scotland’s June 2026 agricultural census counted 1.67 million cattle, while sheep numbers and cereal and oilseed area were below their five-year averages.
Event / data period: 2026-06-01
Published: · Updated:
The Scottish Government’s June 2026 Agricultural Census, published on 8 October, recorded 1.67 million cattle as at 1 June, up 0.7% from 2025. The sheep count was 6.50 million, 2.2% below the 2021-2025 average.
Land used for cereals and oilseeds totalled 447,700 hectares, 5.4% below the five-year average. The agricultural workforce was 66,100 people, down 700 or 1.0% from 2025. The census’s total agricultural area excludes common grazing land.
Data
Scotland June 2026 census livestock counts
Cattle and sheep counts in the Scottish Government census for 1 June 2026.
| Cattle | 1.67 | +0.7% vs 2025 |
| Sheep | 6.5 | -2.2% vs 2021-2025 average |
Methodology
The census reference date is 1 June 2026. Livestock figures are headcounts, area is in hectares and workforce is in people. Comparisons use 2025 or the 2021-2025 average as specified by the source. Total agricultural area excludes common grazing.
Updated:
Scotland June 2026 cereals and oilseeds area
Cereals and oilseeds area in the Scottish Government census for 1 June 2026.
| Cereals and oilseeds | 447700 | -5.4% vs five-year average |
Methodology
The census reference date is 1 June 2026. Livestock figures are headcounts, area is in hectares and workforce is in people. Comparisons use 2025 or the 2021-2025 average as specified by the source. Total agricultural area excludes common grazing.
Updated:
Scotland June 2026 agricultural workforce
Agricultural workforce count in the Scottish Government census for 1 June 2026.
| Agricultural workforce | 66100 | -1.0% (-700 people) vs 2025 |
Methodology
The census reference date is 1 June 2026. Livestock figures are headcounts, area is in hectares and workforce is in people. Comparisons use 2025 or the 2021-2025 average as specified by the source. Total agricultural area excludes common grazing.
Updated:
Subjects and places
Subject proposals
- EconomySuggested
- Preserved editorial category/topic; broad candidate onlywww.gov.scot ↗
- AgricultureSuggested
- Subject suggested from the title or summary: agriculturalwww.gov.scot ↗
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- United Kingdom · Place role: Coverage · Place type: Country or area · Location precision: RegionalEvidence
- Explicit preserved editorial country/region; no city or national centroid inferredwww.gov.scot ↗