Cattle and sheep numbers have decreased in the 12 months to June 2024, while the number of pigs increased, according to latest data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Preliminary estimates published today (Wednesday, October 9), also show a 10,200ha (-3.7%) reduction in the area under total cereals, bringing the total area to 262,200ha compared to June 2023.
The total number of cattle was down by 158,300 (-2.2%) in the year to June 2024 at 7,183,100 head. During the same 12-month period, dairy cow numbers dropped by 22,700 (-1.4%), bringing the total to 1,624,000. Â
CSO data show that the number of other cows fell by 46,800 (-5.4%). Cattle under two years of age were down by 112,200 head (-2.8%), whereas those two years and older rose by 20,700 (+2.6%) from 791,300 to 812,000 head.
Sheep numbers fell by 498,700 head (-8.8%) to 5,175,700 in June 2024. The number of rams dropped by 9,700 (-10.5%) to 82,800, while the number of breeding sheep was down by 364,400 (-11.9%) to 2,685,200 head, and the total of other sheep dropped by 134,300 (-5.1%).
The 10,200ha decline in the area under total cereals is driven by a significant decrease (-19.9%) in the area devoted to the three main winter cereals, despite an 8.1% growth in the area for the three main spring cereals, the CSO said.
The changes in the area under winter cereals and spring cereals are as follows:
- Winter wheat down by 10,500ha (-20.5%);
- Winter oats down by 2,500ha (-25.5%);
- Winter barley down by 9,700ha (-18.3%);
- Spring Wheat up by 2,500ha (+55.1%);
- Spring oats up by 5,100ha (+29.6%);
- Spring barley up by 5,000ha (+3.7%).
The area under potatoes rose by 1,000ha in June 2024 to 9,300ha (+12.7%) in comparison with June 2023. The total area under wheat and barley went down by 14.3% and 2.5% respectively, while the area of oats increased by 9.4% to 29,800ha.
In June 2024, the total pig population in Ireland grew to 1,679,900, a 1.1% rise on June 2023. The number of breeding pigs rose by 7,200 (+4.9%) to 152,800, while non-breeding pigs saw a rise of 11,400 head (+0.7%), reaching a total of 1,527,100.
The number of gilts in pig and gilts not yet served rose by 1,200 (+5.7%) and 1,800 (+9.6%) respectively. The number of other sows for breeding increased to 34,500 from 30,200 (+14.2%).
Latest provisional data from the CSO also show that pigs 20kg and under 50kg grew by 14,300 to 429,400 (+3.4%), while pigs 20kg and under dropped by 8,300 (-2%).