The agricultural livestock industry is part of the environmental and land‐based industries, represented by Lantra Sector Skills Council, which also includes the following industries: agricultural crops; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; equine; environmental conservation; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land‐based engineering; landscape; production horticulture; trees and timber; and veterinary nursing. The sector as a whole currently employs 1,126,000 people (approximately 4% of the UK workforce) in around 230,000 businesses. In addition, there are an estimated 500,000 volunteers working in the sector on a regular basis. Approximately 42% of the workforce is self‐employed.
Traditionally, the agricultural industry comprised of small, mixed farming units consisting of both livestock and crop production. The industry has since moved to large arable units specialising in one or two areas of production. The agricultural livestock industry includes the farming of: cows; sheep; dairy; pigs; poultry and eggs; plus other livestock and related agricultural contracting. Many farms also produce fodder crops. Others combine livestock production with arable or horticultural crops.
Key facts:
- There are approximately 315,300 people working in the industry.
- There are approximately 94,000 agricultural livestock businesses, of which:
- 33% are in cattle
- 60% are in sheep and lambs
- 2% are in pigs
- 4% are in poultry
- 27,000 are mixed farms which combine the farming of one or more of the livestock within other activities
- 98% of businesses employ less than 10 staff.
- The average age of key decision makers on farms is 55 years, of which 50% do not have a successor in place.
- 83% of the workforce is employed full‐time.
- 56% of the workforce is self‐employed.
- 59% of the workforce has a level 2 or above qualification.
Jobs in the industry include:
- Beef and dairy – assistant stockperson, technical advisor/consultant, assistant farm manager, beef contract rearer, herdsperson, beef technician, calf rearer, relief milker, unit manager
- Poultry – assistant farm manager, vaccinator, stockperson, catcher, driver, egg collector, farm secretary
- Pigs – basic stockperson, contract breeder, contract finisher, fieldsperson (breed), section head (farrowing)
- Sheep – lambing assistant, sheep shearer, shepherd, contract lamber
National and regional data
England has 53,794 businesses involved in agricultural livestock employing 172,682 people.
East Midlands – There are an estimated 13,976 employees in the regional workforce, in around 4,394 businesses.
East of England – There are an estimated 8,453 employees in the regional workforce, in around 2,484 businesses.
London and the South East – There are an estimated 18,643 employees in the regional workforce, in around 5,077 businesses in the South East and 128 in London.
North East – There are an estimated 7,283 employees in the regional workforce, in around 2,348 businesses.
North West – There are an estimated 27,942 employees in the regional workforce, in around 8,988 businesses.
South West – There are an estimated 53,280 employees in the regional workforce, in around 16,717 businesses.
West Midlands – There are an estimated 24,565 employees in the regional workforce, in around 7,734 businesses.
Yorkshire and the Humber – There are an estimated 18,879 employees in the regional workforce, in around 5,923 businesses.
Northern Ireland – There are an estimated 45,456 employees in the regional workforce, in around 15,137 businesses.
Scotland – There are an estimated 43,650 employees in the regional workforce, in around 12,352 businesses.
Wales – There are an estimated 53,552 employees in the regional workforce, in around 13,093 businesses.
[N.B. Data derived from IDBR, 2008 and Labour Force Survey, 2008.]
