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For more information on this release:
E-mail: agaccounts@cso.ie mairead.griffin@cso.ie beryl.cronin@cso.ie
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5651
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Livestock Slaughterings

December 2020

CattleSheepPigs
'000 heads
December 2019143.4 268.0 269.9
December 2020145.8 256.3 289.9
 % change
December 2020/20191.7%-4.4%7.4%
Jan-Dec 2020/20191.6%2.1%2.6%

The number of pigs slaughtered during the period January to December 2020 increased by 2.6%

Livestock Slaughterings Release December 2020 Figure 1
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Pig slaughterings increased by 2.6% during the period January to December 2020 when compared to the corresponding period in 2019. See Table 1 and graph.

A further comparison between January - December 2020 and the same period in 2019 also shows that:

  • The number of cattle slaughtered grew by 1.6%
  • Sheep slaughterings rose by 2.1%

 

An analysis of the data for December 2020 compared to December 2019 shows the following:

  • Cattle slaughterings increased by 1.7%
  • The number of sheep slaughtered fell by 4.4%
  • Pig slaughterings grew by 7.4%

 

Please note that from 28 September 2022, we have revised the label on the attached table from tonnes to thousands of tonnes to reflect the correct unit measurements for livestock weights. However, it should be noted that the relevant PxStat table, ADM01, was not impacted by these incorrect labels.

Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings
CategoryYearUnitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
Cattle 2018'000 heads158.6 152.9 152.8 147.8 150.0 147.3 163.1 163.8 160.6 179.5 185.3 134.4 1,896.0
 2019 170.6 164.7 166.2 156.3 157.6 142.5 165.0 135.3 96.9 178.0 176.0 143.4 1,852.5
 2020 165.4 163.7 173.7 122.7 126.0 165.5 172.1 151.4 160.9 ²167.8 167.0 ²145.8 1,882.0
                
Sheep2018'000 heads263.1 219.8 233.7 216.8 263.2 245.0 295.0 338.3 293.0 324.9 297.4 234.1 3,224.3
 2019 260.3 172.6 180.4 244.9 272.4 231.3 294.0 287.0 247.1 311.1 281.1 268.0 3,050.2
 2020 253.4 205.2 240.3 219.9 229.3 281.7 346.5 247.3 298.9 ²285.3 ²249.7 ²256.3 3,113.8
                
Pigs2018'000 heads306.3 276.9 281.1 283.5 310.0 272.3 292.8 301.6 274.9 300.6 316.5 230.3 3,446.7
 2019 328.7 278.9 273.9 282.3 298.4 257.7 306.5 285.9 281.3 297.6 296.2 269.9 3,457.2
 2020 309.4 269.0 300.5 291.2 264.3 297.3 311.8 277.0 306.5 304.6 ²324.9 ²289.9 3,546.5
                
Cattle2018'000 tonnes 152.9 49.0 48.7 48.2 49.6 49.1 53.5 53.8 53.3 59.3 61.0 44.0 622.5
 2019 57.1 52.4 52.2 51.7 53.0 48.5 55.9 46.0 33.0 61.8 59.9 48.3 619.8
 2020 56.1 53.3 55.4 40.9 43.0 56.6 58.4 52.3 55.6 57.6 55.9 ²48.4 633.4
                
Sheep2018'000 tonnes 15.6 4.7 5.0 4.7 5.5 5.0 6.1 7.0 6.2 7.0 6.5 5.1 68.4
 2019 5.8 3.8 4.1 5.7 5.9 4.8 6.1 6.0 5.3 6.7 6.1 5.8 66.0
 2020 5.6 4.5 5.3 4.7 4.8 5.9 7.1 5.1 6.3 6.1 5.4 5.5 66.3
                
Pigs2018'000 tonnes 127.9 24.7 25.3 25.4 27.4 23.6 24.9 25.8 23.8 26.4 28.0 19.9 303.3
 2019 29.7 24.8 24.2 24.9 26.5 22.5 26.3 24.8 24.5 26.2 26.3 23.7 304.4
 2020 28.3 24.3 27.3 26.4 24.1 26.8 27.9 24.9 27.6 27.5 29.3 26.0 320.5
1 Carcass weight. Labels revised from tonnes to thousands of tonnes to reflect the correct unit meaurements.
2 Revised
Totals may not equal the sum of the categories due to rounding differences.

Background Notes

Introduction

This release gives the number and carcass weight of cattle, sheep and pig slaughterings in the Republic of Ireland. The figures include slaughterings at both meat establishments approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities under S.I. 432 of 2009. The collection of monthly slaughtering data for cattle, sheep, and pigs is governed by Regulation (EC) No. 1165/2008.

DAFM approved plants

Data on the number of slaughterings in meat establishments approved by DAFM for cattle, sheep, and pigs are obtained monthly from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Average carcass weights of cattle are taken from the Department’s Beef Carcass Classification Scheme. Average carcass weights of pigs are based on information obtained directly from DAFM approved plants by the CSO. Average carcass weights of sheep are based on average weights data provided by DAFM.

Local Authorities approved plants

The CSO conducts a monthly survey of all Local Authorities in the State. All slaughterings in slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by Local Authorities under S.I. 432 of 2009 are included.

The carcass weight of cattle, sheep, and pigs slaughtered in premises under Local Authority control corresponds with those applied to DAFM approved plants.

Calves

Calf slaughterings are included with cattle.

Carcass Weights

For cattle, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body after being skinned, bled and eviscerated and after removal of external genitalia, the limb at the carpus and tarsus, head, tail, kidneys and kidney fats and the udder.

For sheep, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body after being skinned, bled and eviscerated and after removal of the head, feet, tail and genital organs including the udder. Kidneys and kidney fats are included in the carcass.

For pigs, the carcass weight is defined as the weight of the slaughtered animal’s cold body either whole or divided in half along the mid-line, after being bled and eviscerated and after the removal of the tongue, bristles, hooves, genitalia, flare fat, kidneys and diaphragm.

Timing of Easter

Easter falls each year on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th, inclusively. The level of sheep slaughterings in March and April each year is greatly influenced by when Easter falls.

Dates for Easter Sunday:

2020 - 12th April

2019 - 21st April

2018 - 1st April  

 

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