What is the average profitability of cattle, sheep and dairy per ha?

Question

Does anybody know this? in the european region

Liepa · Accepted Answer

Hi! Nice question! Here is some research I could find regarding this:

Farming Type 
 Average Profit per Hectare 
 Notes

Dairy (Top Herds) 
 >&euro;2,500 
 Based on stocking rates of 2.5 cows/ha in Ireland ( Teagasc )

Dairy (EU Average) 
 &euro;31,900&ndash;&euro;34,200 per worker 
 EU-wide average income per worker ( EU Agriculture )

Sheep (Ireland) 
 &euro;103 
 Net profit per hectare in 2023 ( Teagasc Sheep Factsheet )

Sheep (Poland) 
 Low 
 Many farmers supplement income through alternative sources ( Teagasc )

Cattle (Ireland) 
 &euro;-54 to &euro;-96 
 Varies between single suckling and cattle finishing ( Teagasc )

Cattle (UK Example) 
 &pound;10,000 
 Profit from 80 native cattle after transitioning from sheep farming ( UK Gov )

Hope this helps!

Farming Type	Average Profit per Hectare	Notes
Dairy (Top Herds)	>€2,500	Based on stocking rates of 2.5 cows/ha in Ireland (Teagasc)
Dairy (EU Average)	€31,900–€34,200 per worker	EU-wide average income per worker (EU Agriculture)
Sheep (Ireland)	€103	Net profit per hectare in 2023 (Teagasc Sheep Factsheet)
Sheep (Poland)	Low	Many farmers supplement income through alternative sources (Teagasc)
Cattle (Ireland)	€-54 to €-96	Varies between single suckling and cattle finishing (Teagasc)
Cattle (UK Example)	£10,000	Profit from 80 native cattle after transitioning from sheep farming (UK Gov)

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