Number of Livestock

Compiler: Information Centre of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Tike
Homepage:
Main topic: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery
Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Yes
European Statistical System (ESS): Yes

 Description

Depending on the species, livestock numbers are recorded on 1 April or 1 May and on 1 December. Data is presented by Employment and Economic Development Centre. Information is also available by other regional classifications and herd size. The statistics are based on data contained in the Farm Register, the Bovine Register, the Sheep and Goat Register, and the Farm Survey.

Data content

The statistics are presented by Employment and Economic Development Centre and contain the numbers of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry and farm horses. The cattle statistics give a breakdown of the numbers of cows, suckler cows, bulls, heifers and calves. The swine statistics show the numbers of sows, boars, fattening pigs and piglets. The poultry statistics give a breakdown of the numbers of hens, chicks, roosters, broilers, turkeys and other species.

Categories

The statistics are presented by Employment and Economic Development Centre. The number of livestock at 1 April or 1 May and the number of cattle at 1 December are also available by other regional classifications and by herd size.

The classification of farms into regions is based on the municipality in which a farm’s administrative centre is located.

Data collection and sources

The statistics on the numbers of swine, poultry and farm horses at 1 April are based on information contained in the Farm Register. The Farm Register is a complete enumeration whose population includes all farms that engage in agricultural production. The information on livestock numbers contained in the Farm Register is based on data collected from farmers as part of their EU subsidy applications. A separate questionnaire is sent to farms that do not apply for subsidies.

The numbers of cattle at 1 May and 1 December are taken from the Bovine Register as a complete enumeration, and the numbers of sheep and goats at 1 May and 1 December are taken from the Sheep and Goat Register.

The numbers of swine and hens at 1 December are drawn up using a sample of the data collected from farmers for the Farm Survey, which is conducted by telephone interview in December.

Update frequency

The statistics on cattle, sheep, goats, swine and hens are drawn up twice a year, while the statistics for poultry (excl. hens) and farm horses are drawn up once a year.

Preparation and publication schedule

The numbers of swine, poultry and farm horses at 1 April and the numbers of sheep and goats at 1 May are available in mid-February. The number of cattle at 1 May is available in mid-June.

The numbers of cattle and swine at 1 December are available in mid-February and the number of hens at 1 December in early March. The numbers of sheep and goats at 1 December are available at the end of June.

Time series

Data is available from the 1950s onwards.

Keywords

Agriculture, livestock, bovine animals, cows, suckler cows, pig, poultry, hen, broiler, turkey, sheep, goat, horse

Contact details

Name: Vuorisalo, Sanna
Telephone: +358 295 313 149

Updated