The Scottish Government

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ISBN 978 0 7559 1723 5 (Web only publication)

This document is also available in pdf format (332k)

Contact:

0131 535 4192
andrew.barnes@sac.ac.uk

Contents

Acknowledgements

Executive Summary

1. Introduction
1.1 Background to the Project
1.2 Purpose of Study

2. Impact of the SBCS on the Viability of the Beef Cattle Sector
2.1 Financial Importance of SBCS
2.2 Hill Suckler Cows
2.3 Upland and lowland Sucklers - mainly Silage Diet
2.4 Spring Calving Cows
2.5 The Relative Importance of the SBCS
2.6 Crofting Counties

3. Trends in Beef Calf Production
3.1 Calves Born in Scotland
3.2 Regional Level Trends
3.3 Crofting Counties
3.4 Beef suckler cow herd and replacements in Scotland
3.5 Regional Level Trends
3.6 Crofting County Trends
3.7 Beef suckler cow and sheep production
3.8 Regional Level Trends

4. Environmental Impact of Cattle Production
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Cattle production and the Environment
4.3 Impacts on plant compositions and structure
4.4 Creation of conditions for ground nesting birds and micro-habitats for insects
4.5 Habitats for ground nesting birds
4.6 Micro-habitats for invertebrates
4.7 Ground conditions for Native Tree Regeneration
4.8 Discussion

5. The Impact of Removal of the SBCS
5.1 Quantitative Studies
5.2 Forecasting Changes under CAP reform Scenarios

6. Conclusions

References

List of Tables

Table 1.1. Payments for the SBCS
Table 2.1: Gross margin estimates for typical hill suckler cow enterprise
Table 2.2. Gross and net margins for typical hill suckler cow enterprise
Table 2.3. Gross margin estimates for typical upland and lowland suckler cow - silage diets
Table 2.4. Gross and net margins for typical upland and lowland suckler cow - silage diets
Table 2.5. Gross margin estimates for typical spring calving cow enterprise
Table 2.6. Gross and net margins for typical spring calving cow enterprises
Table 2.7. Distribution of total spend on recipients under the SBCS by agricultural region, £ and percentage share of total budget
Table 2.8. Distribution of SBCS payments per producer, 2005 and 2006
Table 2.9. Average Contribution to Total Public Subsidies of the SBCS within the Crofting Parishes, percentage
Table 2.10. Average numbers of animals claimed, SBCS payment and payments per animal per producer, 2005 to 2006, average numbers and pounds
Table 3.1. National trends in beef calf production, 2004 to 2006, numbers and percentage
Table 2.2. Average growth rates in autumn and spring calf numbers, percent
Table 3.3. Changes in spring and autumn born calves on crofting counties by holdings, (2004 to 2005/06 average), percent
Table 3.4, Changes in Suckler Cows and Replacements 2004 to 2006, numbers and percentages
Table 3.5. Average rates of growth in suckler and heifers in calf, 2001-2006, percent
Table 3.6. Changes in suckler cows and heifers in calf within crofting parishes by numbers, holdings and area, (2004 to 2005/06 average), numbers and percent
Table 3.7. Changes in the cattle to sheep, 2004 to 2006, ratio and percentage
Table 3.8. Average rates of growth in cattle to sheep ratios, percent
Table 4.1. Effects of grazing of cattle on habitats
Table 4.2. Summary of Key Studies of Impacts of Grazing by Cattle on Birds
Table 4.3. Summary of Key Studies of Impacts of Grazing by Cattle on Invertebrates
Table 4.4 Stocking Densities for Suckler Cows per parish
Table 5.1. List of policies related to suckler cow production
Table 5.2. IMCAPT simulation results to 2015 for the livestock sector, percentage change from baseline (2001-2003)
Table 5.3. BAUIII Scotland, total projected changes in animal categories by census types
Table 5.4. Comparison between actual changes in suckler cows and CAP scenario forecasts, numbers and percent

List of Figures

Figure 2.1. Changes in SBCS contribution to gross margins and output per herd size, percent
Figure 2.2. Regional distribution of SBCS payments per producer, average (2005 to 2006), per cent
Figure 3.1. Trends in beef calf production, 1997 to 2006, numbers
Figure 3.2. Parish level changes in total calves, 2004 to 2006, numbers and percentage change
Figure 3.3. Spring calving numbers since 2001, 2001=100
Figure 3.4. Autumn calving numbers since 2001, 2001=100
Figure 3.5. Changes in spring and autumn born calves on crofting parishes by holdings, (2004 to 2005/06 average), percent
Figure 3.6. Trends in suckler cow and heifers in calf numbers, (1997=100)
Figure 3.7. Replacements as a proportion of the suckler cows herd, percent
Figure 3.8. Trends in suckler cow numbers by region, 2001=100
Figure 3.9. Replacement rates (heifers in calf to suckler cow) by region, percent
Figure 3.10. Changes in suckler cow numbers and heifers in calf at parish per holding level, 2004 to 2005/06 average
Figure 3.11. Ratios of various cattle categories to total sheep, 1997 to 2006, 1997=100
Figure 3.12. Trends in cattle to sheep ratios by Scottish region, 2001=100
Figure 4.1. Pairs of curlews related to cattle and sheep production, numbers
Figure 4.2. Number of golden plover related to cattle and sheep production, numbers

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