Tike statistics on livestock numbers show that on 1 December 2007 there were just under three percent fewer bovine animals than in the previous year. The number of dairy cows decreased and the number of suckler cows increased, as in previous years. Pig numbers decreased slightly, with the largest decrease in the number of sows. The numbers of hens, sheep, and horses kept on farms, however, increased last year.

Steady growth rate in the number of suckler cows continues

On 1 December 2007 there were about 902,700 bovine animals in total, which is almost three percent fewer than at the same time in the previous year. There has been a decrease in almost all bovine animal groups, with the exception of suckler cows, the number of which increased on the previous year. The largest numbers of bovine animals were in Northern Ostrobothnia (128,900) and in North Savo (114,000).


The number of dairy cows decreased by four percent from the previous year - at the beginning of December there were approx. 287,500 cows. The rate of decrease was slightly slower than in 2006. From a regional perspective, the numbers of dairy cows decreased in all the T&E Centre (Employment and Economic Development Centre) regions, except in the Åland Islands, where the number of cows increased by just under four percent. In relative terms, the largest decreases in the numbers of dairy cows took place in Southeastern Finland, South Savo and Uusimaa, where the decrease was almost seven percent.


Last year, the number of suckler cows increased by over 10 percent to 44,600 animals. Proportionately, the largest increases took place in Kainuu, Lapland, and Northern Ostrobothnia. The number of suckler cows has continued to increase over the last four years. The growth rate has been relatively even, on average just over ten percent a year. The largest numbers of suckler cows, as well as dairy cows, are in Northern Ostrobothnia, Ostrobothnia, Southern Ostrobothnia and North Savo. About 40 percent of the suckler cows were in these T&E Centre regions.


Pig numbers show a slight decrease

At the beginning of December, there were approx. 1,427,000 pigs. This number is about 8,600 fewer than at the same time in the previous year. There were 4,400 breeding boars and young pigs intended for breeding at the beginning of December, which is a couple of percent lower than in the previous year. The number of sows decreased by just under three percent during the year: at the beginning of December there were approx. 177,300 sows. The number of sows also includes young pigs intended as breeding sows, which have not yet been covered. There were 524,600 fattening pigs, the number being only slightly lower than at the same time in the previous year. The number of pigs in the live weight range of 20 kg - under 50 kg increased by a good five percent to 328,700. The number of pigs of under 20 kg, however, decreased by just under five percent to 391,800.


Pig husbandry is highly concentrated in Southwestern Finland and Ostrobothnia: almost 60 percent of the pigs were in the T&E Centre regions of Southwestern Finland, Southern Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia.


Highest number of horses on the farms of Uusimaa

According to the register of the Finnish Trotting and Breeding Association (Suomen Hippos ry), there were 68,000 horses at the end of December. The number of horses increased by just under three percent from 2006. The number of horses on farms was about 31,900 on 1 December 2007, which is just over one percent higher than the year before. The highest numbers of horses on farms were in Uusimaa (4,200), as well as in Häme and Pirkanmaa, both with about 2,900 horses.


Sheep and hen numbers show a slight increase

Towards the end of last year, there were approx. 90,100 sheep in total, which is a couple of percent higher than at the same time last year. The number of ewes increased to 56,100 animals. Last year's sheep numbers can be considered only indicative, as there was no comprehensive information available from the Sheep and Goat Register, and some of the information had to be estimated.


The number of laying hens increased from the previous year by a good two percent. At the beginning of December, their number was approx. 3.2 million. The number of hens decreased in many T&E Centre regions, but increased in Southwestern Finland by almost ten percent. Over 60 percent of the hens were in the T&E Centre region of Southwestern Finland.


Bovine numbers are obtained from the Bovine Register, which is a comprehensive survey forming a part of the Rural Business Register. The numbers of pigs, hens and horses on farms are based on the farm survey conducted by sampling. The numbers of sheep and goats are partly based on the data of the Sheep and Goat Register. The data on the total number of horses is from the Suomen Hippos ry Register.

Further information

Researcher Sanna Vuorisalo, tel. +358 (0)20 77 21379 or firstname.lastname@mmmtike.fi