Between January and February 2024, Cattle slaughterings rose by 6.8% when compared with the same period in 2023.
In the first two months of the year, Sheep slaughterings grew by 1.5% on the same period in 2023.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in the year to February 2024 was up by 2.1% when compared with the same two months in 2023.
An analysis of the data for February 2024 compared with February 2023 shows that Cattle slaughterings increased by 5.5%.
The number of Sheep slaughtered dropped by 0.1% in February 2024 when compared with the same month in 2023.
Pig slaughterings rose by 4.0% in February 2024 when compared with February 2023.
| Table 1.1: Livestock Slaughterings - February 2024 | |||
| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 heads | |||
| February 2023 | 156.2 | 222.1 | 255.2 |
| February 2024 | 164.8 | 222.0 | 265.3 |
| % change | |||
| February 2024/2023 | 5.5% | -0.1% | 4.0% |
| Jan-Feb 2024/2023 | 6.8% | 1.5% | 2.1% |
Cattle slaughterings in the year to February 2024 are estimated to be almost 331,000 heads, an increase of more than 21,000 heads (+6.8%) when compared with the same period in 2023.
During the same period, Sheep slaughterings rose by approximately 7,000 heads (+1.5%) to just under 482,000 heads when compared with the same two months in 2023.
Pig slaughterings are estimated to be just over 563,000 heads for January and February 2024, up nearly 12,000 heads (+2.1%) on the same period in 2023.
| X-axis label | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 303.145 | 309.694 | 330.833 |
| Sheep | 461.352 | 474.837 | 481.826 |
| Pigs | 599.86 | 551.507 | 563.314 |
The number of Cattle slaughtered in February 2024 increased by almost 9,000 heads (+5.5%) to 165,000 heads when compared with February 2023.
Sheep slaughterings in February 2024 were approximately 222,000 heads, similar to the same month in 2023.
The number of Pigs slaughtered in February 2024 increased by over 10,000 heads (+4.0%) to more than 265,000 heads when compared with February 2023.
| X-axis label | Cattle | Sheep | Pigs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2023 | 153.475 | 252.711 | 296.318 |
| Feb 2023 | 156.219 | 222.126 | 255.189 |
| Mar 2023 | 165.328 | 286.653 | 298.182 |
| Apr 2023 | 134.284 | 249.349 | 250.594 |
| May 2023 | 153.832 | 250.324 | 288.265 |
| Jun 2023 | 148.922 | 275.714 | 274.184 |
| Jul 2023 | 144.298 | 248.769 | 261.821 |
| Aug 2023 | 162.138 | 281.767 | 287.852 |
| Sep 2023 | 152.644 | 273.86 | 264.895 |
| Oct 2023 | 174.866 | 277.657 | 271.633 |
| Nov 2023 | 181.724 | 291.799 | 306.349 |
| Dec 2023 | 143.074 | 256.307 | 255.884 |
| Jan 2024 | 165.996 | 259.871 | 298.021 |
| Feb 2024 | 164.837 | 221.955 | 265.293 |
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Statistician's Comment
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has today (28 March 2024) released Livestock Slaughterings February 2024.
Commenting on the release, Mairead Griffin, Statistician in the Agriculture Accounts & Production Section, said: "Cattle slaughterings increased by 5.5% to almost 165,000 heads in February 2024 when compared with February 2023. The number of Sheep slaughtered fell by 0.1% to approximately 222,000 heads in February 2024 when compared with the same month in 2023, while Pig slaughterings were up by 4.0% to more than 265,000 heads during the same period.
Further analysis of the data shows that during January and February 2024, Cattle slaughterings rose by 6.8% to almost 331,000 heads while the number of Sheep slaughtered grew by 1.5% to approximately 482,000 heads. Pig slaughterings increased by 2.1% to more than 563,000 heads over the same two-month period."