The data consists of faecal microbiology and moisture content taken from two separate cohorts of 30 cattle. The cattle were from the North Wyke Farm Platform, a UK national capability, located at Rothamsted Research, North Wyke in Devon. Faecal samples were collected between November 2016 and July 2018. Samples were collected and microbiologically analysed in the laboratory within 6 to 8 hours. Two cohorts of 30 cattle were selected from 90 animals, ten from each of the three farmlets. Each cohort covering the period that cattle enter the farm platform, i.e. from weaning until slaughter ca. 16 – 20 months.