Irish cattle figures lower in December

The results of the December 2009 Irish Central Statistics Office (CSO) livestock survey show lower cattle numbers with a decline of 2%.

A drop of 2% was recorded in cow numbers at 2.58 million head as stable dairy cow numbers were more than offset by a drop of 4% in beef cow numbers. Breeding ewe numbers were 6% lower in December.

In terms of breeding replacements in the cattle herd, the number of breeding heifers for the suckler cow herd showed a fall of 10% to 119,000 head while dairy replacements were broadly stable.

The number of ''other cattle'' fell by 1% to 3.27 million head. Cattle aged two years and more increased by more than 11% to 533,000 head.

This trend reflects the current pattern of significantly higher disposals to date at export meat plants.

Cattle aged between one and two years of age were virtually unchanged at 1.17 million head. In response to the stronger live trade for calves, weanlings and stores in 2009, the number of cattle aged less than one year fell by 5% or 87,000 head.