October 3, 2022

Total number of cattle and sheep in Ireland has increased so far this year

Provisional data from the Irish June Livestock Survey has found that the total number of cattle and sheep in the country has increased so far this year compared to the same period in 2021, the UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board.

Ireland now has 7.4 million cattle, an increase of 0.5% (37,300 head). Within this, there were 1.6 million dairy cows, up 1.4% (22,800 head), while there were 913,000 beef cows, down 2.9% (27,100 head). This resulted in a 2.5 million cow herd overall, which was essentially stable year over year (-0.2%).

These changes maintain the longer-term trend in Irish cattle numbers, which has seen the dairy herd grow and the suckler herd decrease. The Irish dairy herd has grown by 14% (194,600 head) since 2017, while the suckler herd has decreased by 16%. (167,800 head).

Regarding other cattle, the number of animals aged 2 years and older increased overall by 2.4% (17,100 head), while that of animals aged 1-2 years increased by 2% (38,100 head). A decrease in male cattle was the main factor in the 0.5% (11,500 head) decline in the number of calves under the age of one year.

As supplies have increased, Ireland's cattle slaughter rates have risen thus far in 2022; Bord Bia, the Irish state agency with the aim of promoting sales of Irish food and horticulture both in Ireland and abroad, notes that for the year ending on September 17, Irish prime cattle slaughter is 6% higher than it was for the same period a year prior.

To reach almost 6 million head, the Irish sheep flock increased by 6.4% (358,200 head) from June 2021. This continues the upward trend in sheep populations seen in recent years; since 2017, the national flock has increased by 15%. (770,500 head).

Within this, breeding ewe numbers increased by 5.5% (155,000 head) due primarily to an increase in ewes 2 years of age and older. Other (non-breeding) sheep populations increased to 2.9 million, up 7.6% (204,600 head) from the previous year.

-      UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board