Wales farm fixed capital consumption: livestock
Wales farm fixed capital consumption: livestock stood at £69m in 2025, according to StatsWales — Welsh Government open data. It is one of the indicators in the Farm income and yields table (Value · Annual), with a complete series running from 2013 to 2025. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Farm income and yields table
| Indicator | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consumption of fixed capital | 409 | 399 | 386 | 366 | 327 | 325 | 340 | 334 | 307 | 302 | |
| Consumption of fixed capital — livestock value | 69 | 71 | 67 | 61 | 50 | 60 | 76 | 77 | 60 | 63 | |
| Consumption of fixed capital — buildings and works | 119 | 116 | 114 | 110 | 101 | 97 | 98 | 97 | 94 | 92 |
Understanding wales farm fixed capital consumption: livestock
The reduction in economic value of productive livestock herds and breeding animals in Wales due to ageing and eventual culling is quantified in £m. This specialised component of capital consumption tracks the depreciation of capital-producing livestock, such as dairy cows and breeding ewes, which are held for multiple production cycles rather than immediate slaughter. It isolates biological asset depreciation from standard inventory holding gains and losses.
Interpreting biological asset depreciation requires accounting for fluctuations in livestock market prices and breeding herd replacement costs. Initial estimates are revised as annual livestock census data and abattoir slaughter statistics are finalised. Analysts compare this series with herd size counts to understand how capital asset structures evolve over time.
Frequently asked questions
- Which animals are classified as capital-producing livestock for depreciation?
- Dairy cows, breeding ewes, and beef breeding herds kept for multi-year production are included.
- How does livestock depreciation differ from standard inventory changes?
- Depreciation tracks the ageing and wear of breeding animals, whereas inventory changes measure physical volume shifts.
- What market factors influence livestock capital consumption values?
- Changes in replacement heifer and ewe purchase prices directly alter the depreciation base.