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Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
For more information on this release:
E-mail: agaccounts@cso.ie Viacheslav Voronovich (+353) 21 453 5164 Beryl Cronin (+353) 21 453 5333
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5651
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Livestock Slaughterings

August 2015

 CattleSheepPigs
 '000 head
August 2014138.6 274.1 242.6
August 2015 133.4 275.1 256.8
% Change                
August 2015/2014-3.8%0.4%5.9%
Jan-Aug 2015/2014-3.8%-0.4%7.4%

Cattle slaughterings decreased by 3.8% in August 2015

Livestock Slaughterings Release August 2015 Figure 1
go to full release

The number of cattle slaughtered in August 2015 was 3.8% lower than in August 2014. See Table 1 and graph.

A further comparison of August 2015 and August 2014 slaughtering figures also shows that:

  • Sheep slaughterings increased by 0.4%
  • Pig slaughterings increased by 5.9%

A comparison of figures for January-August 2015 with the corresponding period of 2014 shows that:

  • Cattle slaughterings decreased by 3.8%
  • Sheep slaughterings decreased by 0.4%
  • Pig slaughterings increased by 7.4%
Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings            
                
CategoryYearUnitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal 
                 
Cattle 2013'000137.2 128.4 117.4 127.9 131.3 113.8 136.4 124.1 144.9 157.5 145.1 124.6 1,588.7 
 2014head147.4 136.1 146.4 148.2 146.4 138.2 138.5 138.6 159.6 162.1 146.0 141.2 1,748.7 
 2015 141.3 136.1 146.4 135.9 128.1 131.6 144.1 133.4     1,096.9 
                 
Sheep2013'000234.9 189.3 207.7 179.8 200.1 213.6 286.1 282.1 280.6 302.2 266.9 230.8 2,874.1 
 2014head207.0 176.3 168.6 210.0 211.3 252.0 302.6 274.1 313.2 289.3 213.9 218.5 2,836.6 
 2015 194.1 167.4 202.5 199.2 199.6 259.1 297.0 ²275.1     1,794.1 
                 
Pigs2013'000263.2 228.5 238.9 248.7 261.6 222.1 259.0 234.0 231.9 250.3 242.6 222.7 2,903.7 
 2014head260.3 229.8 236.5 250.1 248.2 240.1 265.5 242.6 271.1 275.2 265.3 258.1 3,042.8 
 2015 265.4 250.8 270.4 269.6 257.2 263.3 285.5 ²256.8     2,118.9 
                 
Cattle2013'00046.0 42.6 38.3 41.0 41.7 36.5 43.8 39.9 47.8 51.6 47.3 41.1 517.6 
 2014tonnes 149.4 45.4 48.6 49.3 48.8 46.2 45.8 46.3 53.6 53.9 48.2 46.6 581.9 
 2015 47.2 45.4 48.8 45.6 43.0 44.5 49.1 45.7     369.3 
                 
Sheep2013'0004.6 3.8 4.1 3.6 4.0 4.2 5.7 5.6 5.7 6.1 5.5 4.7 57.5 
 2014tonnes 14.3 3.6 3.5 4.3 4.3 5.0 6.0 5.6 6.3 5.9 4.4 4.5 57.6 
 2015 4.0 3.5 4.2 4.2 4.1 5.3 5.9 5.6     36.8 
                 
Pigs2013'00021.8 18.9 19.8 20.5 21.7 18.3 21.0 19.1 19.0 20.7 20.2 18.3 239.3 
 2014tonnes 122.1 19.1 19.8 20.8 20.5 19.8 21.9 20.1 22.7 23.2 22.5 21.6 254.1 
 2015 23.3 21.6 23.3 23.3 22.1 22.3 24.3 ²21.8     182.1 
                 
1 Carcass weight         
2 Revised              
Totals may not equal the sum of the categories due to rounding differences.      

Background Notes

Introduction

This release gives the number and carcass weight of cattle, sheep and pig slaughterings in the Republic of Ireland. The figures include slaughterings at both meat establishments approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities under S.I. 432 of 2009. The collection of monthly slaughtering data for cattle, sheep and pigs is governed by Regulation (EC) No. 1165/2008.

DAFM approved plants

Data on the number of slaughterings in meat establishments approved by DAFM for cattle, sheep and pigs is obtained monthly from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Average carcass weights of cattle are taken from the Department’s Beef Carcass Classification Scheme. Average carcass weights of pigs are based on information obtained directly from DAFM approved plants by the CSO. Average carcass weights of sheep are based on average weights data provided by DAFM.

Local Authorities approved plants

The CSO conducts a monthly survey of all Local Authorities in the State. All slaughterings in slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities under S.I. 432 of 2009 are included.

The carcass weight of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in premises under Local Authority control corresponds with those applied to DAFM approved plants.

Calves

Calf slaughterings are included with cattle.

Carcass Weights

For cattle, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body after being skinned, bled and eviscerated and after removal of external genitalia, the limb at the carpus and tarsus, head, tail, kidneys and kidney fats and the udder.

For sheep, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body after being skinned, bled and eviscerated and after removal of the head, feet, tail and genital organs including the udder. Kidneys and kidney fats are included in the carcass.

For pigs, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body either whole or divided in half along the mid-line, after being bled and eviscerated and after the removal of the tongue, bristles, hooves, genitalia, flare fat, kidneys and diaphragm.

Timing of Easter

Easter falls each year on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th, inclusively. In 2015 Easter Sunday fell on April 5th, while in 2014 it fell on April 20th. The level of sheep slaughterings in March and April each year is greatly influenced by when Easter falls.

Dates for Easter Sunday

2015 - 5th April

2014 - 20th April  

2013 - 31st March

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