According to data from the Bovine Register, the cattle stock on 1 December 2010 declined by 8.1 per cent, or 1,310 heads, compared to one year earlier. A rise of 3.9 per cent, or 164 heads, of cattle less than one year old, was recorded over the corresponding period in 2009. The register also revealed that cattle between one and two years of age and those over two years (excluding cows) declined by 12.2 per cent (463 heads) and 33.2 per cent (377 heads) respectively. The most important category – cows – with 43.4 per cent of the total cattle stock, registered a drop of 8.9 per cent.

In 2010, 341 holdings were engaged in rearing cattle, of which 130 were involved in milk production. These farms accounted for 13,344 cattle, or 89.2 per cent of the total stock.

The majority of cattle farms had between 3 and 29 cattle on the holding (48.4 per cent). These farms had a total of 1,719 cattle, or 11.5 per cent of all cattle stock. On the other hand, 15.2 per cent of all cattle farms were large, with more than 100 cattle. These farms had a total of 9,199 heads, or 61.5 per cent of the total stock.

Of all the cattle farms with a herd size ranging from 3 to 29, 84.8 per cent reared cattle for meat production. Total cattle on non-dairy farms within this group amounted to 1,330 heads, or 77.4 per cent of all cattle within this herd size. On the other hand, farms with a herd size of 100 cattle or more were all dairy producers.

On a regional level, cattle stocks fell by 6.9 per cent in Malta and by 10.4 per cent in Gozo and Comino. Overall, 10,044 cattle (67.2 per cent) were found on Maltese farms. Maltese farms located in the South Eastern District accounted for 38.0 per cent of all cattle in Malta. The cattle population in Gozo and Comino amounted to 4,910 heads, or 32.8 per cent of the total cattle stock.

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