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Chapter 4: Livestock Farms

Updated 22 January 2026

Applies to England

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← Chapter 3: Cropping Farms

The following section provides detailed results for each livestock farm type. Where dataset tables are referred to in the text, these can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/farm-accounts-in-england.

Figures are for March to February years, with the most recent year shown ending February 2025. This covers the 2024 harvest and includes the delinked Basic Payment due in the 2024/25 accounting year.

Figure 4.1: Average Farm Business Income for livestock farms in England, broken down by cost centres, 2023/24 and 2024/25

Source: Dataset Table 5

Figure notes:

1. The legend is presented in the same order as the bars (FBI is represented by circular points).

2. The data shown are the averages across all farms in the sample, including those that do not have any income within some of the cost centres.

3. 2023/24 data has been revised with updates to Standard Labour Requirements and weighting methodology. For more details see 6.1 Survey details.

Farm Business Income can be considered as comprising income from four different parts of the business: agriculture, agri-environment, diversification and the delinked Basic Payment Scheme. These are known as cost centres. However, as the methodology to allocate costs to each of the cost centres involves a degree of estimation, results should be interpreted with caution. Details on the methodology can be found in the FBS technical notes and guidance.

Figure 4.2 Input cost breakdown by farm type in England, 2024/25

Source: Dataset Table 6

Figure note: The legend is presented in the same order as the bars.

Figure 4.2 shows a breakdown of the key components of overall input costs by farm type. A more disaggregated breakdown at the all farm level can be found in dataset Table 5.

Dairy Farms

After a fall income in 2023/24 (following 2 years of exceptional highs), dairy farms saw average Farm Business Income more than double to £153,800 in 2024/25 (Figure 4.1 and dataset Table 5.7).

While there was little change in the size of the dairy herd (Table 4.1 and dataset Table 6.5) the average farmgate milk price rose by 8% and the recovery of milk prices (Figure 4.3), supported by tight supplies in the early part of the year was a key driver increasing agricultural output by 14% (dataset Table 5.7). It is important to note the wide variation in milk prices with some farmers receiving considerably more or less than the average.

Table 4.1: Average herd size for dairy cows in England, 2018 to 2024

Source	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Cattle Tracing scheme (all holdings)	97	101	102	105	110	116	120
Cattle Tracing Scheme (holdings with >= 10 dairy cows)	156	160	[x]	166	172	178	183
Farm Business Survey (specialist dairy farms)	188	191	189	199	209	211	216

Sources: Cattle Tracing Scheme (CTS), Farm Business Survey England

Table notes:

1. Dairy cows are defined as female dairy cows over 2 years old with offspring from the CTS.

2. Farm Business Survey data for 2018 to 2021 based on 2010 Standard Outputs.

3. Farm Business Survey data for 2022 onwards based on 2013 Standard Outputs.

4. The symbol ‘x’ denotes data not available; England data collection for 2020 was disrupted by Covid-19, therefore, it was not possible to produce 2020 CTS results by size group.

Figure 4.3: Milk price in the United Kingdom, March 2023 to February 2025

Source: Defra (England and Wales), RESAS (Scotland) and DARD (Northern Ireland) surveys

Output from other cattle enterprises, important to many dairy farms, rose by 38%. Crop output increased by 10%, largely driven by a higher output from by-products, forage and cultivations (dataset Table 5.8). Combined, these increases more than compensated for a 5% rise in agricultural costs (dataset Table 5.9). Variable costs were 6% higher, most notably purchased feed and fodder, other livestock costs and contract labour. Fixed costs increased by 4% with labour, machinery running costs, water and other general costs the main contributors.

Comparing across performance bands (dataset Table 7.6), the highest performing 25% of dairy farms saw net average income from their agricultural activities increase by 63% to £288,500, after more than halving between 2022/23 and 2023/24. For the medium 50% of performers the return on agriculture increased from £30,900 in 2023/24 to £91,200 in 2024/25. The lowest performing 25% of farms failed to make a positive return from agriculture with an average loss £26,300, a reduction compared to 2023/24 when the average loss stood at £88,800.

Net income from agri-environment activities rose by £13,800 to £21,900. The average delinked Basic Payment was 24% lower at £13,100, while income from diversification activities fell by around a quarter to £7,300.

Figure 4.4 shows production costs for milk in 2024/25. Note that the cost of production is on a full economic basis (see footnote 3 of Figure 4.4) and is spread across all milk produced including any that is used on the farm. Based on this enterprise data from the Farm Business Survey, the average price for milk sold from dairy enterprises was 43 pence per litre in 2024/25 whilst the average cost of production was 44.9 pence per litre.

Figure 4.4: Proportion of milk produced by cost of production (in pence per litre) in England, 2024/25

Figure notes:

1. The legend is presented in the same order as the bars.

2. 95% Confidence Intervals have been presented to show the range where the true value is likely to lie and provides an indication of the degree of uncertainty of the estimate.

3. Production costs shown in Figure 4.4 include all financial aspects of dairy enterprises such as any unpaid labour (including that of the farmer and spouse), herd depreciation and an estimated rental equivalent for land that is owned. An allowance is also made for non-milk revenue, most of which is from the sale of dairy calves, which is applied as a reduction to cost. This is to take into account the value of by-products from milk production. As a result, the production costs here represent the price that would have to be paid on all milk produced for dairy enterprises to break even.

Grazing livestock farms (lowland)

In 2024/25, average Farm Business Income on lowland grazing livestock farms increased from £18,500 to £41,300 (Figure 4.1 and dataset Table 5.10), in real terms this was the highest income for this type of farm since 2009/10.

At £17,000, net agri-environment income more than doubled and contributed most to the increase in overall income. Income from diversification activities (particularly building rental and other diversified activities) rose by 42% to £14,300.

Higher agricultural output resulted in a positive (albeit small) return on agricultural activities for the first time since 2021/22. When the agricultural cost centre is analysed by performance bands (dataset Table 7.8), low and medium performing businesses again failed to make a positive return from agriculture in 2024/25. For the lowest performing farms, losses were virtually unchanged on the previous year, but for medium performers they reduced from £13,200 in 2023/24 to £4,400 in 2024/25. The top 25% of farms saw the return on their agricultural activities increase substantially from £6,800 in 2023/24 to £35,200 in 2024/25.

Output from beef enterprises, which tend to make the biggest contribution to livestock output on lowland grazing livestock farms, increased by 37% reflecting firm output prices (Figure 4.5) plus increased stocking rates and numbers sold.

Figure 4.5: Liveweight finished cattle price in Great Britain, March 2023 to February 2025

Source: Liveweight Auction Market Finished Report

Sheep output was 27% higher with lamb prices (both fat and store) consistently up on the year (Figure 4.6) including some record highs and, like cattle, higher stocking and sold numbers. For both lowland farms and those in Less Favoured Areas the difference between the livestock opening and closing valuations can have a considerable impact on income. In 2024/25, closing valuations for both sheep and beef were higher than opening valuations, bolstering enterprise output.

Figure 4.6: Deadweight Standard Quality Quotation (SQQ) price in the United Kingdom, March 2023 to February 2025

Source: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

Figure note: The Deadweight SQQ is for lamb carcasses falling in the 12-21.5 kg weight bracket.

A rise in agricultural costs of 15% (notably general farming costs, feed and labour) put pressure on margins but was offset by the higher agricultural output. Increased income from the other cost centres was also sufficient to offset a 16% reduction in the delinked Basic Payment.

Grazing livestock farms (Less Favoured Area)

For LFA grazing livestock farms average Farm Business Income rose 61% to £40,300 (Figure 4.1 and dataset Table 5.13).

At £23,600, net income from agri-environment activities was 57% higher than 2023/24. Often an important source of income for LFA farms, these payments equated to 59% of average Farm Business Income. This increase, along with higher revenue from diversified activities (which rose to £7,500) more than compensated for a 26% reduction in the delinked Basic Payment and an average loss from agriculture of £2,700.

In terms of agricultural enterprises, although output rose by 5%, this was not enough to produce a positive return on agricultural activities although losses were reduced compared to 2023/24. Comparing across performance bands (dataset Table 7.10), low and medium performing farms made an average loss on agricultural enterprises of £21,100 and £8,400 respectively, in both cases a reduction compared to 2023/24. The top 25% of farms saw the return on their agricultural activities more than double in 2024/25 to £25,300.

Output from sheep was unchanged compared to 2023/24 with both lower numbers sold and stocking rates (a likely contributing factor being the smaller 2024 lamb crop) offsetting record lamb prices (Figure 4.6) and higher prices for breeding ewes and hoggs. Output from beef enterprises rose by 8% with similar drivers to lowland farms while there was a slight (1%) fall in crop output.

Specialist pig farms

The Farm Business Survey sample for specialist pig farms is relatively small, meaning that individual farms can have a large influence on the results and the results should be treated with caution.

Compared to 2023/24, average Farm Business Income on specialist pig farms was 6% lower at £126,700 (Figure 4.1 and dataset Table 5.16). A substantial increase in net income from agriculture, which doubled to £85,700, was insufficient to compensate for a fall in revenue from both diversification and the delinked Basic Payment.

Agricultural input costs were considerably lower; fixed costs fell by 5% and variable costs by 24% (dataset Table 5.18). Feed accounted for much of the decrease in variable costs (Figure 4.7), reflecting the lower value of raw ingredients such as wheat and barley. In terms of fixed costs, labour, machinery running costs and electricity all fell, offsetting small rises for other inputs.

Figure 4.7: Average compound feed prices for pigs in Great Britain, 2023/24 to 2024/25

Source: Defra, Average Compound Feed Prices by main livestock categories, Great Britain

The lower costs more than offset a drop in pig output of 13% which reflected a reduction in average numbers of both sows and finished pigs, although prices remained relatively stable (Figure 4.8).

Figure 4.8: Deadweight Standard Pig Price (SPP) in Great Britain, March 2023 to February 2025

Source: Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board

Figure note: The Standard Pig Price (SPP) is the average price, in pence per kg deadweight, paid by a voluntary sample of abattoirs across Great Britain for pigs that receive no premium beyond weight and grade.

The return from diversification activities fell by around two thirds to £21,900 with lower output from food processing and retailing, tourism and the letting out of buildings accounting for most of the reduction. Letting out buildings refers to receiving rent for farm buildings or land for purposes not connected with the farm business (this does not include income from tourist accommodation). At £10,000 the delinked Basic Payment was 34% lower than 2023/24.

Note that these changes should be treated with caution because of the small sample size and the wide confidence intervals. Contract rearers are also well represented in the FBS sample. Business models for contract rearing operations are varied and these types of farms may not be impacted by price variations to the same extent as non contract rearing farms

Specialist Poultry farms

The Farm Business Survey sample specialist poultry farms are relatively small, meaning that individual farms can have a large influence on the results, and the results should be treated with caution.

At £235,900, average Farm Business Income on specialist poultry farms was 35% higher than 2023/24 (Figure 4.1 and dataset Table 5.19).

Output from poultry meat rose by 5% which more than offset a 4% fall in egg output. Although the egg price was higher, there was a decrease in the quantity of eggs produced (reflecting fewer layers). In terms of price, the rise is in line with the trend seen in UK statistics (Figure 4.9), but not for production where UK statistics show an increase. These factors combined increased agricultural output by 2%.

Figure 4.9: Quarterly Egg Packing Station prices in the United Kingdom, 2023 and 2024

Source: Quarterly UK Egg Packing Station Survey

Agricultural costs were virtually unchanged compared to 2023/24. A rise in fixed costs of 9% (driven by labour) was offset by lower variable costs (most notable feed and fodder) (dataset Table 5.21). Overall, the net contribution of agricultural activities was around two thirds of the average Farm Business Income on poultry farms, a marked contrast to some other farm types.

Net income from diversification activities was £54,900, a 67% increase on the previous year while agri-environment payments were 73% higher at £11,800.

Note that these changes for specialist poultry farms should be treated with caution because of the small sample size and the range of enterprises covered by this farm type. For example, there are farms producing broilers, turkeys, ducks and geese and for laying flocks the systems cover organic and conventional free range enterprises as well as enriched cages.

Chapter 5: Diversification →