An analysis of the data for January 2025 compared with January 2024 shows that Cattle slaughterings fell by 1.4%.
During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered decreased by 27.8%.
Pig slaughterings remained largely unchanged in January 2025 when compared with January 2024.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - January 2025 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| January 2024 | 166.1 | 260.0 | 298.0 |
| January 2025 | 163.8 | 187.8 | 298.4 |
| % change | |||
| January 2025/2024 | -1.4% | -27.8% | 0.1% |
| X-axis label | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 153.475 | 166.064 | 163.783 |
| Sheep | 252.711 | 259.978 | 187.782 |
| Pigs | 296.318 | 298.046 | 298.365 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered decreased by 2,000 heads (-1.4%) to nearly 164,000 heads.
Sheep slaughterings were down 72,000 heads (-27.8%) to almost 188,000 heads.
The number of Pigs slaughtered remained at 298,000.
| X-axis label | Cattle | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | 166.064 | 259.978 | 298.046 |
| Feb 2024 | 164.074 | 217.306 | 264.223 |
| Mar 2024 | 153.142 | 272.044 | 273.695 |
| Apr 2024 | 155.008 | 200.506 | 273.184 |
| May 2024 | 150.915 | 214.655 | 287.18 |
| Jun 2024 | 127.644 | 221.549 | 245.527 |
| Jul 2024 | 157.667 | 256.52 | 297.317 |
| Aug 2024 | 151.044 | 275.493 | 283.108 |
| Sep 2024 | 170.155 | 277.153 | 273.32 |
| Oct 2024 | 187.569 | 257.755 | 294.176 |
| Nov 2024 | 174.451 | 188.439 | 296.088 |
| Dec 2024 | 147.83 | 206.684 | 261.769 |
| Jan 2025 | 163.783 | 187.782 | 298.365 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 February 2025) published Livestock Slaughterings January 2025.
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section, said: "An analysis of January 2025 data compared with January 2024 data shows that Cattle slaughterings fell by 1.4% to 164,000 heads. During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered dropped by 27.8% to almost 188,000 heads, while at 298,000 heads, there was little change in Pig slaughterings.