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Methodology Previous Releases
International comparison:
Eurostat
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For more information on this release:
E-mail: agaccounts@cso.ie Mairead Griffin (+353) 21 453 5586 Beryl Cronin (+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 2019

CattleSheepPigs
'000 heads
May 2018150.0263.2310.0
May 2019157.6272.7299.6
% Change   
May 2019/20185.1%3.6%-3.4%
Jan-May 2019/20186.9%-5.5%0.4%

Cattle slaughterings are up by 5.1%

Livestock Slaughterings Release May 2019 Figure 1
go to full release

The number of cattle slaughtered in May 2019 increased by 5.1% when compared to May 2018.  See Table 1 and graph.

A further comparison of May 2019 and May 2018 slaughtering figures also shows that:

  • Sheep slaughterings increased by 3.6% 
  • Pig slaughterings decreased by 3.4%

A comparison of figures for January-May 2019 with the corresponding period of 2018 shows that:

  • Cattle slaughterings increased by 6.9%
  • Sheep slaughterings decreased by 5.5%
  • Pig slaughterings increased by 0.4%

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 2017'000 heads149.2 150.6 158.1 130.2 153.0 154.8 143.6 161.6 159.9 165.8 181.7 143.0 1851.6
 2018 158.6 152.9 152.8 147.8 150.0 147.3 163.1 163.8 160.6 179.5 185.3 134.4 1896.0
 2019 170.6 164.7 166.2 155.2 ²157.6        814.3
                
Sheep2017'000 heads242.3 207.0 231.2 225.5 265.8 262.8 269.1 312.3 294.5 296.9 305.1 270.7 3183.2
 2018 263.1 219.8 233.7 216.8 263.2 245.0 295.0 338.3 293.0 324.9 297.4 234.1 3224.3
 2019 260.3 172.6 180.4 244.4 ²272.7        1130.5
                
Pigs2017'000 heads285.6 259.2 285.1 255.5 295.2 277.2 270.6 292.3 280.8 282.0 314.0 257.7 3355.1
 2018 306.3 276.9 281.1 283.5 310.0 272.3 292.8 301.6 274.9 300.6 316.5 230.3 3446.7
 2019 328.7 278.9 273.9 282.3 ²299.6        1463.4
                
Cattle2017'000 tonnes 150.0 49.3 51.2 43.2 51.1 52.0 48.2 55.2 54.5 55.6 59.9 46.9 617.0
 2018 52.9 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 52.5 52.3 51.6 52.9        266.4
                
Sheep2017'000 tonnes 15.3 4.5 5.1 4.9 5.5 5.3 5.5 6.4 6.1 6.3 6.5 5.7 67.1
 2018 5.6 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 ²5.9        25.2
                
Pigs2017'000 tonnes 125.2 22.5 25.3 22.3 25.9 24.1 23.4 25.5 24.5 24.9 28.0 22.7 294.2
 2018 27.9 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 24.2 ²24.9 ²26.6        130.3
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

2019 - 21st April

2018 - 1st April  

2017 - 16th April

 

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