Key takeaways
As of June 1, 2026, the Korea National Data Agency's livestock trend survey showed that there were 75,647 Korean and beef cattle breeding farms and 5,342 dairy cattle breeding farms. To see the possibility of initial installation of methane monitoring, if we only count the sections with 50 or more cows, there are 20,763 places for Korean and beef cattle and 3,052 places for dairy cattle. A simple sum of the number of farms by size for both livestock species amounts to 23,815 operating units.
Calculate number of farms with 50 or more animals
Liver tumor | Less than 50 to 100 animals | 100 or more | Total of 50 or more |
|---|---|---|---|
Korean beef | 12,461 locations | 8,302 locations | 20,763 locations |
dairy | 1,720 locations | 1,332 locations | 3,052 locations |
The attached due diligence guide presents first quarter data as of March 1, 2026, showing 20,150 places for Korean and beef cattle and 3,096 places for dairy cattle with 50 or more heads, for a total of 23,246 places. In the latest second quarter data, the simple combined figure increased by 569 to 23,815. Since there are quarterly movements, the blog and business plan must also indicate the base date.
Why is it difficult to say ‘the total number of farms in the country’ in one number?
Livestock trend surveys have different survey units and inclusion criteria for each livestock species. For Korean beef cattle and dairy cattle, farm data from the cow history system is used, for chickens, households with more than 3,000 animals, and for ducks, households with more than 2,000 animals are used. One farm may raise multiple livestock species together, so simply adding up the number of farms for each livestock species may differ from the number of unique farms or businesses.
Therefore, when explaining the market, it is more accurate to clearly state the scope and calculation method, such as ‘simple sum of the number of farms by livestock species with 50 or more cattle, beef cattle, and dairy cattle as of June 1, 2026’ rather than ‘the number of domestic farms.’
Check before converting market numbers to customer numbers
Check the number of livestock buildings, open/closed structures, and ventilation conditions for each farm.
Check the sensor installation location, power/communication environment, and maintenance distance.
We distinguish between actual purchasers and data users among farms, feed companies, and research institutes.
Confirm intent to participate in PoC, budget, purpose of using the report, and success criteria.
Limitations of evidence and interpretation
Number of farms and breeding scaleNational Data Center 2026 2nd quarter livestock trend surveyWe used the official statistical table. The latest quarterly figures for Korean beef cattle and dairy cattle are provisional and may be revised in the future.
23,815 is a reference value that simply adds up the number of farms by size with more than 50 animals of two livestock species. It is not the number of unique corporations/businesses with duplicates removed or the number of customers who can purchase immediately, and does not indicate a specific farm's intention to adopt it or methane reduction performance.