The number of Dairy Cows increased by around 32,000 (+2.0%) between June 2025 and June 2026.
The number of Cattle aged 2 years and over rose from 752,600 to 821,400 (+9.1%) in the 12 months to June 2026.
Breeding Sheep increased by 88,500 (+3.4%) to 2,702,000 in June 2026 when compared with June 2025.
The number of Breeding Pigs increased by 3,000 (+2.2%) to 138,900 in June 2026 when compared with June 2025.
Figure 1 shows the change in the June population for Cattle, Sheep and Pigs from 2024 to 2026.
The Total Cattle number increased by 164,800 (+2.4%) to 7,069,700 in June 2026.
The number of Dairy Cows rose by 32,000 (+2.0%) and the number of Other Cows increased by 15,700 (+2.0%).
The total number of Cattle aged less than 2 years grew by 46,400 (+1.2%).
The number of Cattle aged 2 years and over increased by 68,800 (+9.1%).
A regional analysis of the livestock numbers shows that the largest number of Cattle (1,403,000) were in the Mid-West region.
Cork is the county with the highest number of Cattle at 1,039,900. In terms of Dairy Cows, Cork (384,900) has more than either the Northern and Western region (193,000) or Eastern and Midland region (291,300).
The June 2026 Sheep results contain State figures.
The total number of Sheep increased in the last 12 months by 46,700 (+0.9%) to 5,145,200.
Breeding Sheep rose by 88,500 (+3.4%) and Other Sheep (non-breeding sheep) fell by 41,800 (-1.7%).
Ram numbers increased by 8,700 (+10.2%) to 93,900 between June 2025 and June 2026.
The June 2026 Pig results contain State figures.
The total number of Pigs in Ireland in June 2026 increased by 4.4% to 1,635,900 when compared with June 2025.
Breeding Pig numbers were up by 3,000 (+2.2%) to 138,900. The number of Gilts in Pig and Gilts not yet served also increased by 400 (+2.2%) and 1,000 (+6.0%) respectively. The number of Other Sows for breeding rose to 33,300 (+3.5%).
The number of Other Pigs (non-breeding pigs) increased by 66,400 (+4.6%) to 1,496,900. Pigs 80kg and over decreased by 34,200 to 330,100 (-9.4%) while Pigs 20kg and under were up by 20,100 (+5.1%).
Learn about our data and confidentiality safeguards, and the steps we take to produce statistics that can be trusted by all.
Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (29 September 2026) published estimates for June Livestock 2026. Commenting on the data, Stephanie Kelleher, Statistician in the Agriculture Surveys Section of the CSO, said:
"Estimates for June 2026 showed an increase in the total number of Cattle, Sheep and Pigs when compared with June 2025.
Cattle
The number of Dairy Cows increased by 32,000 (+2.0%), bringing the total to 1,619,800. Cattle that were 2 years and over also rose, by 9.1%, while Cattle 1 to 2 years declined slightly by 0.2%.Sheep
The estimated number of Sheep in June 2026 was 5,145,200, slightly higher (+0.9%) than June 2025. The figure for Breeding Sheep was 2,702,000 which was up 3.4% while the number of Other Sheep decreased by 1.7% to 2,443,100. The number of Rams increased by 8,700 (+10.2%) to 93,900.Pigs
In June 2026, the number of Pigs in Ireland rose to 1,635,900, a 4.4% increase compared with June 2025. The number of Breeding Pigs grew by 3,000 (+2.2%) to 138,900. Non-breeding Pigs also saw an increase of 66,400 (+4.6%), rising to a total of 1,496,900."