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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 Morgan O'Donnell (+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

December 2012

 CattleSheepPigs
 '000 head
December 2011114.0207.2239.5
December 2012120.4232.0217.9
% Change                
Dec 2012/20115.6%12.0%-9.0%
Jan-Dec 2012/2011-9.6%11.6%2.3%

Cattle slaughterings increased by 5.6% in December

Figure 1 Livestock Slaughterings December 2012
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The number of cattle slaughtered in December 2012 was 5.6% higher than in December 2011. See Table 1 and graph.

A further comparison of December 2012 and December 2011 slaughtering figures also shows that

  • Sheep slaughterings increased by 12.0%.
  • Pig slaughterings decreased by 9.0%.

The number of cattle slaughtered in January-December 2012 was 9.6% lower than the corresponding 2011 period. Over the same period there was an increase of 11.6% in sheep slaughterings and an increase of 2.3% in pig slaughterings.

Comparing EU figures for the periods January-October 2012 and January-October 2011, Ireland showed an 11.2% decrease in cattle slaughterings while of the major EU cattle producing countries, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany recorded decreases of 6.7%, 4.8%, 2.8% and 0.3% respectively.

Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings            
                
CategoryYearUnitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
                
Cattle 2010'000126.0140.8161.0139.3134.9140.1134.7137.0160.3148.1166.1128.21,716.4
 2011head120.9127.4148.3136.9135.4136.7118.2141.2152.6150.3160.3114.01,642.3
 2012 124.1118.1112.4110.4118.3106.1115.5128.1126.5154.8149.8120.41,484.5
                
Sheep2010'000161.1147.0175.8153.1165.6204.6234.5255.5249.3234.3233.1168.82,382.7
 2011head157.5145.8147.2165.5189.5224.1233.8257.0242.9221.4218.1207.22,410.0
 2012 177.2151.9146.8166.6226.5214.6257.2292.6259.3 ³299.4 ³266.5 ³232.02,690.7
                
Pigs2010'000200.7202.2231.0220.4213.8217.9225.9226.1235.7214.5247.2221.62,657.1
 2011head225.0225.0249.2227.1240.5237.2232.7257.2258.3240.2273.1239.52,905.0
 2012 253.2250.3247.1242.5265.0233.6253.5257.0 ³230.9 ³261.5 ³260.6 ³217.92,973.0
                
Cattle2010'00041.245.952.045.043.745.443.444.652.748.854.441.8559.0
 2011tonnes 140.142.148.945.244.745.138.947.751.950.953.637.8546.8
 2012 42.139.838.037.439.635.338.542.942.351.648.8 ³39.4495.6
                
Sheep2010'0003.22.93.53.13.34.14.75.15.04.74.73.447.8
 2011tonnes 13.22.93.03.33.84.44.65.14.94.44.44.148.1
 2012 3.53.02.93.34.54.25.15.95.26.05.44.653.7
                
Pigs2010'00016.416.518.918.117.317.417.918.018.917.219.917.6214.1
 2011tonnes 118.418.320.218.319.418.918.420.620.819.322.019.1233.7
 2012 20.720.520.319.921.718.020.520.818.821.621.2 ³17.1241.2
                
1 Carcass weight         
2 Totals may not equal the sum of the categories due to rounding differences.      
3 Revised               
      
Table 2 Cattle Slaughterings  ‘000 head
    
CountryJan-Oct 2011Jan-Oct 2012% change
    
    
European Union ..21,659..
   Austria534498-6.6
   Belgium708682-3.6
   Bulgaria..20..
   Cyprus13148.0
   Czech Republic205190-7.2
   Denmark421409-2.8
   Estonia2725-5.2
   Finland2222220.1
   France4,2954,088-4.8
   Germany3,0052,995-0.3
   Greece210199-5.2
   Hungary8577-9.1
   Ireland1,3681,214-11.2
   Italy3,0032,917-2.8
   Latvia7269-4.7
   Lithuania141138-2.1
   Luxembourg2019-4.5
   Malta43-7.8
   Netherlands1,6691,604-3.9
   Poland1,2591,154-8.4
   Portugal3433440.3
   Romania1021085.8
   Slovak Republic3631-13.6
   Slovenia9691-5.8
   Spain1,9311,922-0.5
   Sweden400378-5.4
   United Kingdom2,4072,244-6.7
    
Source: Eurostat website http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu and national data (as at 15/01/2013)
.. not available   

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 the export factories by the CSO. Average carcass weights of sheep are derived through consultations with industry experts.

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 CSO estimates the carcass weight of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in premises under Local Authority control.  These estimates are reviewed on a regular basis with butchers and abattoirs.

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 2012 Easter Sunday fell on April 8th, while in 2011 it fell on April 24th. The level of sheep slaughterings in March and April each year is greatly influenced by when Easter falls.

Dates for Easter Sunday

2012 – 8th April

2011 – 24th April

2010 – 4th April

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