Between January and March 2026, Cattle slaughterings decreased by 15.0% when compared with the same period in 2025 and were down by 7.1% when comparing March 2026 with March 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in the first three months of 2026 grew by 5.2% when compared with the same three-month period in 2025 and rose by 10.9% in March 2026 when compared with March 2025.
The number of Sheep slaughtered declined by 1.9% between January and March 2026 and increased by 0.3% in March 2026 when compared with the same month in 2025.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - March 2026 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| March 2025 | 158.4 | 202.4 | 271.9 |
| March 2026 | 147.2 | 203.0 | 301.5 |
| % change | |||
| March 2026/2025 | -7.1% | 0.3% | 10.9% |
| Jan-Mar 2026/2025 | -15.0% | -1.9% | 5.2% |
Cattle slaughterings in the year to March 2026 are estimated to be 410,000 heads, a decrease of 73,000 heads (-15.0%) when compared with the same period in 2025.
During this period in 2026, Sheep slaughterings fell by 11,000 heads (-1.9%) to 567,000 heads when compared with the same three months in 2025.
Pig slaughterings are estimated to be 875,000 heads between January and March 2026, up 43,000 heads (+5.2%) on the same period in 2025.
| X-axis label | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 483.28 | 482.592 | 410.057 |
| Sheep | 749.328 | 577.3296 | 566.56565 |
| Pigs | 835.964 | 831.1674 | 874.5678 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered in March 2026 fell by 11,000 heads (-7.1%) to 147,000 heads when compared with March 2025.
Sheep slaughterings in March 2026 were 203,000 heads, an increase of 1,000 heads (+0.3%) when compared with the same month in 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in March 2026 rose by 30,000 heads (+10.9%) to 301,000 heads when compared with March 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 | 134.621 | 183.98925 | 301.013 |
| Feb 2026 | 128.239 | 179.572 | 272.063 |
| Mar 2026 | 147.197 | 203.0044 | 301.4918 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 April 2026) published Livestock Slaughterings March 2026.
Commenting on the release, Cathal Byrne, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section said: "Cattle slaughterings decreased by 7.1% to 147,000 heads in March 2026 when compared with March 2025. During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered rose by 0.3% to 203,000 heads and Pig slaughterings went up 10.9% to 301,000 heads.
Further analysis of the data shows that between January and March 2026, Cattle slaughterings contracted by 15.0% to 410,000 heads when compared with the same period in 2025. The number of Sheep slaughterings decreased by 1.9% to 567,000 heads while Pig slaughterings went up by 5.2% to 875,000 heads over the same three-month period."