Scotland lost a further 41 dairy herds and 4122 milking cows during 2009, compared to 28 herds and 1311 cows during 2008.

These figures were revealed by the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association, who maintain an accurate data base for all dairy herds north on the border.

The average size of milking herd is now 145 cows and for milk recorded herds it is 173 – probably the largest in Europe. The top dairying county is still Ayrshire, with 30,886 cows, but is now closely followed by Dumfries-shire, with 29,438 cows.

Largest herd sizes are in the east and north-east of Scotland, with three counties averaging more than 360 cows per herd and the smallest is Orkney and Shetland whose 28 herds average 98 and 56 respectfully.