The number of sheep slaughtered in Ireland in 2024 stood over 2.8 million head, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

That marks a decrease of 321,000 head or 10% when compared to the 2023 figure of 3.16 million.

The latest data, published today (Tuesday, January 28) shows that the number of cattle slaughtered in 2024 is estimated to be around 1.9 million head, which is an increase of 2% or 36,000 animals on 2023.

The CSO said that the number of pigs processed is estimated to be 3.3 million head in 2024, which is up 1% or 36,000 head on the previous year.

The Livestock Slaughterings December 2024 report also outlines that the number of cattle slaughtered in December 2024 was estimated at 149,000 head.

According to the CSO, this is an increase of 4% or 6,000 head when compared to the corresponding month in 2023.

The number of sheep slaughtered in December 2024 stood at 206,000. The report stated that this represents a decrease of almost 20% or 50,000 head when compared with December 2023.

Pig slaughterings increased by 2.4% or 6,000 head in December 2024 to 262,000, when compared with the same month in the previous year.

Separately, after four consecutive weeks of factory cattle supplies remaining below 35,000 head, the beef kill numbers totalled just over 37,200 head in the week ending Sunday, January 19.

According to figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), supplies for the second full week of January this year were over 2,000 head above the same week of 2024.

Reduced supplies as a result of the snow and ice in parts of the country in the week ending Sunday, January 12, may have partially attributed to the strong supply last week.