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Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
For more information on this release:
E-mail: agaccounts@cso.ie Viacheslav Voronovich (+353) 21 453 5164 Morgan O'Donnell (+353) 21 453 5333
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5651
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Livestock Slaughterings

May 2014

 CattleSheepPigs
 '000 head
May 2013131.3200.1261.6
May 2014148.1210.3247.7
% Change                
May 2014/201312.8%5.1%-5.3%
Jan-May 2014/201313.3%-3.9%-1.3%
   

Cattle slaughterings increased by 12.8% in May

Livestock Slaughterings Release May 2014 Figure 1
go to full release

The number of cattle slaughtered in May 2014 was 12.8% higher than in May 2013. See Table 1 and graph.

A further comparison of May 2014 and May 2013 slaughtering figures also shows that

  • Sheep slaughterings increased by 5.1%.
  • Pig slaughterings decreased by 5.3%.

A comparison of figures for January-May 2014 with the corresponding period of 2013 shows that

  • Cattle slaughterings increased by 13.3%.
  • Sheep slaughterings decreased by 3.9%.
  • Pig slaughterings decreased by 1.3%.
Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings            
                
CategoryYearUnitJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
                
Cattle 2012'000124.1 118.1 112.4 110.4 118.3 106.1 115.5 128.1 126.4 155.0 149.9 119.4 1,483.8
 2013head137.2 128.4 117.4 127.9 131.3 113.8 136.4 124.1 144.9 157.5 145.1 124.6 1,588.7
 2014 147.4 136.2 146.5 149.6 ²148.1        727.8
                
Sheep2012'000177.2 151.9 146.8 166.6 226.5 214.6 257.2 292.6 259.2 300.4 266.6 231.1 2,690.8
 2013head234.9 189.3 207.7 179.8 200.1 213.6 286.1 282.1 280.6 302.2 266.9 230.8 2,874.1
 2014 207.1 176.6 168.8 209.2 ²210.3        972.0
                
Pigs2012'000253.2 250.3 247.1 242.5 265.0 233.6 253.5 257.0 230.8 261.5 260.7 217.3 2,972.3
 2013head263.2 228.5 238.9 248.7 261.6 222.1 259.0 234.0 231.9 250.3 242.6 222.7 2,903.7
 2014 260.3 229.8 236.5 250.1 ²247.7        1,224.4
                
Cattle2012'00042.1 39.8 38.0 37.4 39.6 35.3 38.5 42.9 42.2 51.6 48.9 39.1 495.4
 2013tonnes 146.0 42.6 38.3 41.0 41.7 36.5 43.8 39.9 47.8 51.6 47.3 41.1 517.6
 2014 49.4 45.4 48.6 49.5 49.1        242.0
                
Sheep2012'0003.5 3.0 2.9 3.3 4.5 4.2 5.1 5.9 5.2 6.0 5.4 4.6 53.7
 2013tonnes 14.6 3.8 4.1 3.6 4.0 4.2 5.7 5.6 5.7 6.1 5.5 4.7 57.5
 2014 4.3 3.6 3.5 4.3 ²4.3        20.0
                
Pigs2012'00020.7 20.5 20.3 19.9 21.7 18.0 20.5 20.8 18.8 21.6 21.2 17.4 241.5
 2013tonnes 121.8 18.9 19.8 20.5 21.7 18.3 21.0 19.1 19.0 20.7 20.2 18.3 239.3
 2014 22.1 19.1 19.8 ²20.8 ²20.7        102.6
                
1 Carcass weight         
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 is 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. In 2014 Easter Sunday falls on April 20th, while in 2013 it fell on March 31st. The level of sheep slaughterings in March and April each year is greatly influenced by when Easter falls.

Dates for Easter Sunday

2014 - 20th April  

2013 - 31st March

2012 – 8th April

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