 The total workforce employed in farming was 8,744, with nearly half (47%) being part-time and 7% casual.The trend towards smallholdings was maintained with nearly half (47%) of all holdings being of less than , and almost two-thirds (66%) below ; only 7% were or above.The total number of cattle (both dairy and beef) in 2006 was 225,640, representing 23% of the breeding herds in the North-West of England; however, the number of dairy holdings was in steep decline, from 988 in 2002 to 716 in 2007.