| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| March 2021 | 164.1 | 232.9 | 322.1 |
| March 2022 | 173.2 | 250.4 | 324.6 |
| % change | |||
| March 2022/2021 | 5.6% | 7.5% | 0.8% |
| Jan-Mar 2022/2021 | 9.4% | 12.0% | 1.9% |
Sheep slaughterings rose by 12.0% during the period January to March 2022 when compared to the corresponding period in 2021.
A further comparison between January to March 2022 and the same period in 2021 shows that:
An analysis of the data for March 2022 compared to March 2021 shows the following:
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 | |||||||||||||||
| Category | Year | Unit | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total 3 |
| Cattle | 2020 | '000 heads | 165.4 | 163.7 | 173.7 | 122.7 | 126.0 | 165.5 | 172.1 | 151.4 | 160.9 | 167.8 | 167.1 | 145.7 | 1,881.9 |
| 2021 | 134.6 | 136.6 | 164.1 | 137.2 | 136.2 | 139.2 | 154.0 | 155.8 | 163.2 | 158.8 | 171.4 | 141.1 | 1,792.1 | ||
| 2022 | 143.9 ² | 159.3 ² | 173.2 ² | 476.3 | |||||||||||
| Sheep | 2020 | '000 heads | 253.4 | 205.2 | 240.3 | 219.9 | 229.3 | 281.7 | 346.5 | 247.3 | 298.9 | 285.3 | 249.4 | 254.5 | 3,111.7 |
| 2021 | 217.9 | 184.9 | 232.9 | 201.6 | 211.4 | 255.6 | 306.2 | 283.1 | 298.3 | 266.2 | 261.5 | 252.1 | 2,971.8 | ||
| 2022 | 226.9 ² | 234.6 ² | 250.4 | 711.8 | |||||||||||
| Pigs | 2020 | '000 heads | 309.4 | 269.0 | 300.5 | 291.2 | 264.3 | 297.3 | 311.8 | 277.0 | 306.5 | 304.6 | 324.9 | 289.8 | 3,546.4 |
| 2021 | 291.0 | 293.6 | 322.1 | 312.1 | 290.6 | 306.9 | 315.0 | 307.4 | 312.7 | 297.5 | 341.9 | 299.1 | 3,689.8 | ||
| 2022 | 295.9 | 303.8 ² | 324.6 | 924.3 | |||||||||||
| Cattle | 2020 | '000 tonnes 1 | 56.1 | 53.3 | 55.4 | 40.9 | 43.0 | 56.6 | 58.4 | 52.3 | 55.6 | 57.6 | 55.9 | 48.4 | 633.4 |
| 2021 | 44.7 | 43.4 | 51.6 | 45.5 | 46.3 | 46.8 | 52.1 | 53.3 | 55.7 | 53.5 | 56.1 | 45.6 | 594.5 | ||
| 2022 | 47.4 ² | 49.8 ² | 53.4 | 150.5 | |||||||||||
| Sheep | 2020 | '000 tonnes 1 | 5.6 | 4.5 | 5.3 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 7.1 | 5.1 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 5.5 | 66.2 |
| 2021 | 4.7 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 5.7 | 63.4 | ||
| 2022 | 5.0 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 16.0 | |||||||||||
| Pigs | 2020 | '000 tonnes 1 | 28.3 | 24.3 | 27.3 | 26.4 | 24.1 | 26.8 | 27.9 | 24.9 | 27.6 | 27.5 | 29.3 | 25.7 | 320.1 |
| 2021 | 26.9 | 26.9 | 29.6 | 28.5 | 26.4 | 27.6 | 27.9 | 27.6 | 28.3 | 27.1 | 31.5 | 27.0 | 335.1 | ||
| 2022 | 28.0 | 28.8 ² | 30.8 | 87.6 | |||||||||||
| 1 Carcass weight. Labels revised from tonnes to thousands of tonnes to reflect the correct unit meaurements. | |||||||||||||||
| 2 Revised | |||||||||||||||
| 3 Totals may not equal the sum of the categories due to rounding differences. | |||||||||||||||
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.
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.
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.
Calf slaughterings are included with cattle.
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.
The CSO’s slaughtering data may differ from other sources of slaughtering data due to different reference periods and the completeness of the data. This release is based on data received from both DAFM and local authority approved slaughtering facilities and is compiled on a calendar monthly basis. Other sources may be compiled on a weekly basis, may not include data from local authority approved slaughtering facilities and may exclude some subcategories of animals.
Particular care should always be taken when comparing weekly data and monthly data. Weekly data can straddle different months and indeed years and as a result, can lead to significant differences when compared with monthly data.
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:
2022 - 17th April
2021 - 4th April
2020 - 12th April
Hide Background Notes
Scan the QR code below to view this release online or go to
http://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ls/livestockslaughteringsmarch2022/
Show Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings
Hide Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings