Description of Number of Livestock statistics

Compiler: Natural Resources Institute Finland
Homepage: Number of Livestock
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 ELY Centre and municipality. Information is also available by other regional classifications and herd size. Information about the number of domestic animals is mostly obtained from registers.

Data content

The statistics are presented by ELY Centre and municipality 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 ELY Centre and municipality. 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

 Statistics of the number of domestic animals mainly includes production animals at farms entered in the register of agricultural and horticultural enterprises. Registered farms include agricultural and horticultural enterprises, the financial size of which is at least EUR 2,000.

The number of poultry and horses on farms entered in the register of agricultural and horticultural enterprises (as of 1 April) is based on data collected from farmers in conjunction with the spring subsidy application.

Number of pigs at 1. April are taken from the Pig Register. The number of pigs at 1 December are drawn up using a sample of the data collected from farmers for the Farm Survey.

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 are taken from the Sheep and Goat Register.

Update frequency

The statistics on cattle and pigs are drawn up twice a year, while the statistics for poultry, sheep, goats and farm horses are drawn up once a year.

Preparation and publication schedule

Information about pigs, poultry and farm horses as of 1 April and the number of sheep and goats as of 1 May are published in the middle of December, and information about the number of cattle as of 1 May is published in the middle of June.

The numbers of cattle and pigs at 1 December are available in mid-February.

Time series

Data is available from the 190s onwards.