Comparing December 2025 with December 2024:
The total number of Cattle decreased by 24,200 to 6,284,100 (-0.4%).
The number of Dairy Cows rose by 0.6% to 1,490,400 while the number of Other Cows dropped by 2.2% to 750,600.
Sheep numbers increased by 98,000 (+2.7%) to 3,689,700.
The number of Breeding Sheep rose by 25,400 (+1.0%) to 2.6 million, while the number of Other Sheep went up 72,600 (+7.0%) to 1.1 million.
The Total Pigs in the state were 1,459,500 in December 2025 with 50% in the Southern region (729,000).
Figure 1 shows the change in the December population for Cattle and Sheep from 2020 to 2025.
The total number of Cattle decreased by 24,200 (-0.4%) to 6,284,100 in December 2025 compared with December 2024. The number of Dairy Cows rose by 9,100 (0.6%) while the number of Other Cows fell by 17,200 (-2.2%) and the number of Bulls decreased by 200 (-0.3%).
A regional analysis of the livestock numbers shows that the largest number of Cattle (1,225,400) were in the Mid-West region.
Cork is the county with the highest number of Cattle at 915,300. In terms of Dairy Cows, Cork (352,700) has more than either the Northern and Western region (179,000) or Eastern and Midland region (268,600).
From 2025, the estimated number of Pigs in the State is informed by the National Pig Census which is carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). In previous years, the Central Statistics Office carried out a sample survey of pig holdings in December and used this survey to derive national population estimates by weight category to satisfy EU regulatory reporting requirements. For the 2025 National Pig Census, these data requirements were incorporated into the Census by DAFM, with the aims of both improving data quality and reducing the overall response burden on farmers. The CSO greatly appreciates DAFM accommodating these data requirements.
The total number of Pigs was 1,459,500 in December 2025. The number of Breeding Pigs was 122,800, while the number of Other Pigs was 1,336,700.
Regional analysis shows the largest number of Pigs was in the Border region (330,700), while the smallest number of Pigs was in the West region (35,500).
Total figures for the number of Sheep were just under 3.7 million in December 2025, an increase of 98,000 (+2.7%) compared with the previous year.
The number of Breeding Sheep rose by 25,400 (+1.0%) to 2.6 million, while the number of Other Sheep increased by 72,600 (+7.0%) to 1.1 million.
A regional analysis shows the West region had the highest number of Sheep (1,019,800) while the Mid-West region had the lowest number of Sheep (152,900).
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (12 May 2026) published Livestock Populations for December 2025.
Commenting on the release, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Agriculture Section of the CSO, said:
"The Livestock Populations series presents estimates for livestock numbers (Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats) in December of each year. For December 2025, these estimates are exclusively derived from administrative source data collections carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). This series was previously named Livestock Survey December.
From 2025, the estimated number of Pigs in the State is informed by the National Pig Census which is carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). In previous years, the Central Statistics Office carried out a sample survey of pig holdings in December and used this survey to derive national population estimates by weight category to satisfy EU regulatory reporting requirements. For the 2025 National Pig Census, these data requirements were incorporated into the Census by DAFM, with the aims of both improving data quality and reducing the overall response burden on farmers. The CSO greatly appreciates DAFM accommodating these data requirements.
The total number of Cattle fell by 0.4% to 6,284,100 in the year to December 2025. The number of Dairy Cows rose by 9,100 (+0.6%) while Other Cows fell by 17,200 (-2.2%).
Figures for the total number of Sheep showed an increase of 98,000 (+2.7%) compared with December 2024. The number of Breeding Sheep rose slightly by 25,400 (+1.0%) while the number of Other Sheep showed the largest increase of 72,600(+7.0%) .
The total number of Pigs in December 2025 was 1,459,500."