Between January and February 2026, Sheep slaughterings decreased by 3.6% when compared with the same period in 2025 and were down by 5.1% when comparing February 2026 with February 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in the first two months of 2026 grew by 2.4% when compared with the same two-month period in 2025 and increased by 2.2% in February 2026 when compared with February 2025.
The number of Cattle slaughtered declined by 19.1% in the first two months of 2026 and fell by 19.8% in February 2026 when compared with the same month in 2025.
From January 2025 all data on the number of slaughterings comes directly from DAFM. Prior to this, data from small plants were collected by individual Local Authorities. The 2025 monthly totals have been revised using this new data source. This has not resulted in a break in time series.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - February 2026 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| February 2025 | 159.5 | 187.2 | 266.0 |
| February 2026 | 127.9 | 177.6 | 271.8 |
| % change | |||
| February 2026/2025 | -19.8% | -5.1% | 2.2% |
| Jan-Feb 2026/2025 | -19.1% | -3.6% | 2.4% |
Cattle slaughterings in the year to February 2026 are estimated to be 262,000 heads, a decrease of 62,000 heads (-19.1%) when compared with the same period in 2025.
During this period in 2026, Sheep slaughterings fell by 14,000 heads (-3.6%) to 361,000 heads when compared with the same two months in 2025.
Pig slaughterings are estimated to be 573,000 heads between January and February 2026, up 14,000 heads (+2.4%) on the same period in 2025.
| X-axis label | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 330.138 | 324.223 | 262.421 |
| Sheep | 477.284 | 374.949 | 361.29925 |
| Pigs | 562.269 | 559.261 | 572.791 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered in February 2026 fell by 32,000 heads (-19.8%) to 128,000 heads when compared with February 2025.
Sheep slaughterings in February 2026 were 178,000 heads, a reduction of 10,000 heads (-5.1%) when compared with the same month in 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in February 2026 rose by 6,000 heads (+2.2%) to 272,000 heads when compared with February 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 | 134.519 | 183.72725 | 300.984 |
| Feb 2026 | 127.902 | 177.572 | 271.807 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (26 March 2026) published Livestock Slaughterings February 2026.
Commenting on the release, Cathal Byrne, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section said: "Cattle slaughterings decreased by 19.8% to 128,000 heads in February 2026 when compared with February 2025. During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered fell by 5.1% to 178,000 heads and Pig slaughterings went up 2.2% to 272,000 heads.
Further analysis of the data shows that between January and February 2026, Cattle slaughterings contracted by 19.1% to 262,00 heads when compared with the same period in 2025. The number of Sheep slaughterings decreased by 3.6% to 361,000 heads while Pig slaughterings went up by 2.4% to 573,000 heads over the same two-month period."