Agricultural livestock production includes beef, sheep, dairy, pig, poultry and egg farming, as well as the production of other livestock and related agricultural contracting.

Key statistics on the industry:

• 98.6% of businesses employ less than 10 people
• 59.1% of the workforce are proprietors
• 70.3% of proprietors are male, 78.4% of staff are male
• almost half of staff are under 35 years
• common annual business turnover is £10,000-£49,000
• 5.5% of all establishments report vacancies
• 3.1% report that these vacancies are hard-to-fill
• no skill shortage vacancies are reported
• 0.9% of the workforce have skills gaps

There is inconsistent training provision across the UK, with some major deficiencies in both geographic coverage and specific vocational skills areas.  There is a need to increase the availability of specific technical, business skills and the appropriate skills needed for diversification. Overall, there needs to be a concerted effort to raise the level of basic skills within the workforce.

As with the agricultural crops industry future skill needs include:

• specialist machinery operation and maintenance
• agronomy skills relating to plant nutrients and crop protection,
• business planning and management skills
• people management, team working and leadership skills
• IT skills to support business management and marketing

There is a shortage for general farm workers with basic maintenance skills.

Future work and employment are affected by the same industry drivers as for agricultural crops.

Source: Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Key Drivers of Skill Demand 2005, Sector Skills Agreement Stage 1: Annex 2.7 2005 and Agricultural Livestock Industry report 2005

For regional distribution of businesses and employees in the industry see:

Geographical distribution of agricultural livestock industry, 2005