Between January and March 2023, Cattle slaughterings decreased by 0.4% when compared with the same period in 2022.
Sheep slaughterings increased by 6.9% between January and March 2023 when compared with the same period in 2022.
The number of Pigs slaughtered fell by 8.1% between January and March 2023 when compared with the same period in 2022.
An analysis of the data for March 2023 compared with March 2022 shows that Cattle slaughterings contracted by 4.9%.
The number of Sheep slaughtered rose by 13.2% in March 2023 compared with March 2022.
Pig slaughterings declined by 8.2% in March 2023 compared with March 2022.
Table 1.1 presents analysis on month versus month and year-to-date comparisons of the current year and the previous year's livestock slaughterings. Figure 1.1 shows year-to-date trends of livestock slaughterings from 2021 to 2023.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - March 2023 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| March 2022 | 173.4 | 252.0 | 324.7 |
| March 2023 | 165.0 | 285.1 | 298.1 |
| % change | |||
| March 2023/2022 | -4.9% | 13.2% | -8.2% |
| Jan-Mar 2023/2022 | -0.4% | 6.9% | -8.1% |
| X-axis label | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 435.312 | 476.564 | 474.873 |
| Sheep | 635.71 | 713.328 | 762.438 |
| Pigs | 906.643 | 924.598 | 849.611 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (27 April 2023) released Livestock Slaughterings March 2023.
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section, said: "Cattle slaughterings decreased by 4.9% in March 2023 when compared with March 2022. Over that same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered grew by 13.2% while the number of Pigs slaughtered contracted by 8.2%. Further analysis of the data shows that between January and March 2023, slaughterings for Sheep rose by 6.9% while Cattle and Pigs decreased by 0.4% and 8.1% respectively."