| Cattle | Sheep | Pigs | |
| '000 head | |||
| March 2016 | 145.6 | 227.2 | 280.1 |
| March 2017 | 157.1 | 230.5 | 285.0 |
| % Change | |||
| March 2017/2016 | 7.9% | 1.4% | 1.8% |
| Jan-Mar 2017/2016 | 5.3% | 11.4% | 0.5% |
The number of cattle slaughtered in March 2017 is up by 7.9% when compared to March 2016. See Table 1 and graph.
A further comparison of March 2017 and March 2016 slaughtering figures also shows that:
A comparison of figures for January-March 2017 with the corresponding period of 2016 shows that:
Please note that from September 2022 we have revised the labels on the attached table from heads to thousands of heads and from tonnes to thousands of tonnes to reflect the correct unit measurements for livestock numbers and 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 |
| Cattle | 2015 | '000 heads 3 | 141.3 | 136.1 | 146.4 | 135.9 | 128.1 | 131.5 | 144.1 | 132.9 | 145.7 | 142.3 | 146.7 | 133.7 | 1,664.9 |
| 2016 | 137.9 | 150.3 | 145.6 | 134.5 | 133.5 | 138.0 | 135.9 | 148.9 | 161.4 | 151.0 | 166.0 | 141.3 | 1,744.2 | ||
| 2017 | 149.2 | 150.7 ² | 157.1 | 457.0 | |||||||||||
| Sheep | 2015 | '000 heads 3 | 194.1 | 167.4 | 202.5 | 199.2 | 199.6 | 259.6 | 297.9 | 275.2 | 310.3 | 262.0 | 233.2 | 231.7 | 2,832.8 |
| 2016 | 197.7 | 185.6 | 227.2 | 190.9 | 227.1 | 252.6 | 258.2 | 267.8 | 291.5 | 258.2 | 283.5 | 251.9 | 2,892.2 | ||
| 2017 | 242.3 | 207.2 ² | 230.5 | 679.9 | |||||||||||
| Pigs | 2015 | '000 heads 3 | 265.4 | 250.8 | 270.4 | 269.6 | 257.1 | 262.6 | 285.1 | 256.3 | 277.8 | 278.3 | 287.7 | 264.9 | 3,226.0 |
| 2016 | 266.2 | 279.5 | 280.1 | 281.6 | 277.8 | 275.3 | 266.6 | 285.0 | 279.2 | 260.4 | 299.2 | 265.7 | 3,316.6 | ||
| 2017 | 285.6 | 259.2 ² | 285.0 | 829.8 | |||||||||||
| Cattle | 2015 | '000 tonnes 1 | 47.2 | 45.4 | 48.8 | 45.6 | 43.0 | 44.5 | 49.1 | 45.5 | 50.3 | 48.9 | 50.2 | 45.7 | 564.1 |
| 2016 | 47.5 | 51.0 | 49.1 | 45.1 | 44.9 | 46.6 | 45.7 | 50.5 | 55.0 | 51.0 | 55.0 | 46.9 | 588.4 | ||
| 2017 | 50.0 ² | 49.3 ² | 50.9 | 150.2 | |||||||||||
| Sheep | 2015 | '000 tonnes 1 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 5.6 | 6.4 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 58.4 |
| 2016 | 4.2 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.6 | 6.1 | 5.5 | 6.1 | 5.4 | 60.9 | ||
| 2017 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 14.8 | |||||||||||
| Pigs | 2015 | '000 tonnes 1 | 23.3 | 21.6 | 23.3 | 23.3 | 22.1 | 22.3 | 23.5 | 21.7 | 23.6 | 24.9 | 24.7 | 22.2 | 276.4 |
| 2016 | 23.3 | 24.2 | 24.1 | 24.3 | 23.7 | 23.3 | 22.4 | 24.0 | 23.5 | 22.0 | 25.5 | 22.6 | 282.7 | ||
| 2017 | 25.2 | 22.5 ² | 25.3 | 73.0 | |||||||||||
| 1 Carcass weight. Labels revised from tonnes to thousands of tonnes to reflect the correct unit meaurements. | |||||||||||||||
| 2 Revised | |||||||||||||||
| 3 Unit heads. Labels revised from heads to thousands of heads to reflect the correct unit measurement | |||||||||||||||
| 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 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.
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.
Easter falls each year on a Sunday between March 22nd and April 25th, inclusively. In 2017 Easter Sunday will fall on April 16th, while in 2016 it fell on March 27th. The level of sheep slaughterings in March and April each year is greatly influenced by when Easter falls.
Dates for Easter Sunday
2017 - 16th April
2016 - 27th March
2015 - 5th 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/livestockslaughteringsmarch2017/
Show Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings
Hide Table 1 Livestock Slaughterings