The number of Sheep slaughtered in the first eight months of the year fell by 3.4% when compared with the same period in 2025, but increased by 10.3% in August 2026 when compared with August 2025.
Between January and August 2026, Cattle slaughterings decreased by 5.4% when compared with the same period in 2025 but were up by 20.8% when comparing August 2026 with August 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in the first eight months of 2026 grew by 4.0% when compared with the same eight-month period in 2025 and increased by 6.3% in August 2026 when compared with August 2025.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - August 2026 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| August 2025 | 115.4 | 192.2 | 268.9 |
| August 2026 | 139.4 | 211.9 | 285.9 |
| % change | |||
| August 2026/2025 | 20.8% | 10.3% | 6.3% |
| Jan-Aug 2026/2025 | -5.4% | -3.4% | 4.0% |
Cattle slaughterings in the year January to August 2026 are estimated to be 1.1m heads, a decrease of 62,000 heads (-5.4%) when compared with the same period in 2025.
During the first eight months of 2026, Sheep slaughterings dropped by 53,000 heads (-3.4%) to 1.5m heads when compared with the same months in 2025.
Pig slaughterings are estimated to be 2.3m heads between January and August 2026, up 89,000 heads (+4.0%) on the same period in 2025.
| X-axis label | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 1225.558 | 1140.497 | 1078.761 |
| Sheep | 1918.051 | 1564.003 | 1511.40325 |
| Pigs | 2222.28 | 2239.466 | 2328.2102 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered in August 2026 grew by 24,000 heads (+20.8%) to 139,000 heads when compared with August 2025.
Sheep slaughterings in August 2026 were 212,000 heads, an increase of 20,000 heads (+10.3%) when compared with the same month in 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in August 2026 rose by 17,000 heads (+6.3%) to 286,000 heads when compared with August 2025.
| X-axis label | Cattle | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | 164.718 | 187.743 | 293.286 |
| Feb 2025 | 159.505 | 187.206 | 265.975 |
| Mar 2025 | 158.369 | 202.3806 | 271.9064 |
| Apr 2025 | 159.413 | 206.6236 | 287.7144 |
| May 2025 | 134.921 | 184.0808 | 282.2092 |
| Jun 2025 | 129.255 | 199.3732 | 268.4568 |
| Jul 2025 | 118.914 | 204.4238 | 301.0222 |
| Aug 2025 | 115.402 | 192.172 | 268.896 |
| Sep 2025 | 136.301 | 204.5782 | 290.0962 |
| Oct 2025 | 135.843 | 209.2938 | 301.7538 |
| Nov 2025 | 135.079 | 180.409 | 284.716 |
| Dec 2025 | 128.996 | 203.61975 | 286.586 |
| Jan 2026 | 134.823 | 177.30225 | 301.055 |
| Feb 2026 | 130.211 | 173.964 | 272.288 |
| Mar 2026 | 147.985 | 206.8324 | 301.8408 |
| Apr 2026 | 136.992 | 181.4514 | 300.2778 |
| May 2026 | 134.486 | 184.0282 | 277.5174 |
| Jun 2026 | 125.41 | 171.4782 | 284.5636 |
| Jul 2026 | 129.475 | 204.3988 | 304.7364 |
| Aug 2026 | 139.379 | 211.948 | 285.9312 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (25 September 2026) published Livestock Slaughterings August 2026.
Commenting on the release, Mattis Voss, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section said: "Cattle slaughterings increased by 20.8% to 139,000 heads in August 2026 when compared with August 2025. During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered increased by 10.3% to 212,000 heads while Pig slaughterings were up 6.3% to 286,000 heads.
Further analysis of the data shows that between January and August 2026, Cattle slaughterings contracted by 5.4% to 1.1m heads when compared with the same period in 2025. The number of Sheep slaughterings fell by 3.4% to 1.5m heads and Pig slaughterings went up by 4.0% to 2.3m heads over the same eight-month period."