[holding answer 12 June 2009]: The number of sheep (including lambs) in England since 1997 can be found in the following table.
Total sheep and lambs 1997 19,464,635 1998 20,175,458 1999 20,273,586 2000 19,144,345 2001 16,139,534 2002 15,396,793 2003 15,704,438 2004 15,872,915 2005 15,877,451 2006 15,673,409 2007 15,436,577 2008 15,535,215 Source: June 2008 Agricultural and Horticultural Survey