Beef kill: Will supplies recover after short-week 6,000 head dip?
Supplies of factory fit cattle dropped off by 6,000 head in the week ending Sunday, March 23, as a result of the St. Patrick's Day Bank Holiday Monday and subsequent four-day beef kill at most beef plants.
While the drop-off in supplies was to be expected for the short week, it remains to be seen to what extent the figures will recover.
Supplies of factory cattle are currently running 11,000 head above last year.
However, the supply forecast for this year indicates anywhere from 70,000-90,000 head fewer cattle will be slaughtered this year when compared to last year, according to the latest Bord Bia projections.
The table below gives an overview of the beef kill for the week ending Sunday, March 23, versus the same week of last year and the cumulative kill to date this year versus last year:
| Animal | Week Starting 17-Mar-25 | Equivalent Last Year | Cumulative 2025 | Cumulative 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Young bulls | 1,662 | 1,706 | 33,007 | 32,610 |
| Bulls | 599 | 550 | 5,113 | 5,038 |
| Steers | 11,582 | 12,017 | 151,143 | 146,772 |
| Cows | 7,019 | 7,605 | 99,102 | 107,142 |
| Heifers | 10,407 | 9,296 | 140,980 | 126,733 |
| Total | 31,269 | 31,174 | 429,345 | 418,295 |
While supplies dropped off significantly for the week following St. Patrick's Day, numbers remained similar to the same week of last year.
Weekly supplies have been trending ahead of last year to date despite a previously forecasted drop of cattle supplies for both the first and second quarter of this year.
The graph below shows how 2025 weekly beef kill numbers compare to 2024:
The graph above illustrates the drop-off in cattle supplies in the short week following St. Patrick's Day
It remains to be seen to what extent supplies recovered in the final full week of March and into April.
