This release presents estimates for livestock numbers (cattle, sheep and pigs) in December 2022 at State level. The estimates for cattle and sheep are obtained from administrative data from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). Breeding bull data is received quarterly from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). The estimates for pigs are based on returns from the CSO December Pig Survey.
Cattle: The results for cattle are obtained from DAFM’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system, formerly known as the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS). This system was introduced at the beginning of 2000 and involves electronically recording data on animal movements. Breeding bull data is received quarterly from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).
Pigs: A specialist pig survey was conducted by the CSO due to the intensive nature of this activity.
Sheep: The estimates for sheep are obtained from DAFM National Sheep & Goat Census undertaken on 31st December 2022. The 2022 results from this census are provisional. Final figures will be published on PxStat by the end of May, 2023. Click here for a link to PxStat Table AAA06 Farm Animals in December by Type of Animal showing livestock numbers including sheep.
The DAFM National Sheep and Goat Census is carried out under EU Regulation 2016/429 on transmissible animal diseases which obliges member states to carry out a census of sheep and goats annually. The first census took place in 2005.
Rounding: As a result of rounding, there may be slight discrepancies between the sum (or difference) of the constituent items and the total shown. Percentage changes have been calculated using actual figures.
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