Between January and May 2026, Cattle slaughterings decreased by 12.0% when compared with the same period in 2025 and were down by 0.6% when comparing May 2026 with May 2025.
While the number of Sheep slaughtered fell by 0.6% between January and May 2025 and January and May 2026, the number rose by 3.7% in May 2026 when compared with May 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in the first five months of 2026 grew by 3.7% when compared with the same five-month period in 2025 and fell by 1.6% in May 2026 when compared with May 2025.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - May 2026 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| May 2025 | 134.9 | 184.1 | 282.2 |
| May 2026 | 134.2 | 190.8 | 277.7 |
| % change | |||
| May 2026/2025 | -0.6% | 3.7% | -1.6% |
| Jan-May 2026/2025 | -12.0% | -0.6% | 3.7% |
Cattle slaughterings in the year to May 2026 are estimated to be 684,000 heads, a decrease of 93,000 heads (-12.0%) when compared with the same period in 2025.
During the first five months in 2026, Sheep slaughterings dropped by 6,000 heads (-0.6%) to 962,000 heads when compared with the same months in 2025.
Pig slaughterings are estimated to be 1.5m heads between January and May 2026, up 52,000 heads (+3.7%) on the same period in 2025.
| X-axis label | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 789.203 | 776.926 | 683.896 |
| Sheep | 1164.489 | 968.034 | 962.03725 |
| Pigs | 1396.328 | 1401.091 | 1452.927 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered in May 2026 fell by 1,000 heads (-0.6%) to 134,000 heads when compared with May 2025.
Sheep slaughterings in May 2026 were 191,000 heads, an increase of 7,000 heads (+3.7%) when compared with the same month in 2025.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in May 2026 fell by 4,000 heads (-1.6%) to 278,000 heads when compared with May 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 | 134.777 | 184.32225 | 300.994 |
| Feb 2026 | 130.163 | 180.44 | 272.217 |
| Mar 2026 | 147.903 | 215.9584 | 301.7858 |
| Apr 2026 | 136.886 | 190.4754 | 300.2048 |
| May 2026 | 134.167 | 190.8412 | 277.7254 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (24 June 2026) published Livestock Slaughterings May 2026.
Commenting on the release, Mattis Voss, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section said: "Cattle slaughterings decreased by 0.6% to 134,000 heads in May 2026 when compared with May 2025. During the same period, the number of Sheep slaughtered increased by 3.7% to 191,000 heads while Pig slaughterings were down 1.6% to 278,000 heads.
Further analysis of the data shows that between January and May 2026, Cattle slaughterings contracted by 12.0% to 684,000 heads when compared with the same period in 2025. The number of Sheep slaughterings fell by 0.6% to 962,000 heads while Pig slaughterings went up by 3.7% to 1.5m heads over the same five-month period."