According to a December survey by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the United Kingdom’s sheep breeding flock expanded 2% to 16.43 million head during 2002.

UK-wide ewe lamb retentions increased 9.8% to 3.57 million head. Almost all Foot and Mouth Disease recovery flocks were reared in England in 2002, which accounted for 43% of the total UK sheep population. The active ewe breeding population rose 6.5%.

The Meat and Livestock Commission’s (MLC) senior economic analyst, Jane Conner said the census figures were in line with MLC’s forecast that a substantial number of ewe lambs would be retained in 2002, but not used for breeding purposes.

In Wales FMD decreased flock sizes by 8%. The number of breeding sheep increased only slightly while total ewe retentions decreased.

In Scotland the sheep breeding population reduced slightly. Even prior to FMD however, numbers had already started to decline.

Northern Ireland breeding flocks were largely unaffected by FMD decreasing 4% in line with a five-year downward trend. And though the number of ewe lamb retentions was high; the majority of animals held back were barren.

UK sheep flock expands 2% - leatherbiz: Leading news site for the glob

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UK sheep flock expands 2%

According to a December survey by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the United Kingdom’s sheep breeding flock expanded 2% to 16.43 million head during 2002.

Northern Ireland breeding flocks were largely unaffected by FMD decreasing 4% in line with a five-year downward trend. And though the number of ewe lamb retentions was high; the majority of animals held back were barren.