574,505 cattle passed through the country's marts in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, according to latest mart figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

That marks a significant increase of over 60,500 head when compared with the first three months of 2024 (513,939).

The data shows that 564,139 cattle were sold in marts between January and March, which is up 14% or 70,000 head from the 493,806 sold in the same period last year.

The data shows that 10,366 cattle went unsold at marts and were returned home during the period, which is around half of the corresponding figure for Q1 2024 (20,133 unsold)

The department said that 289,045 cattle (51%) were sold in marts in Munster in the three-month period, compared to 124,774 in Leinster, 98,497 in Connaught and 51,823 in Ulster.

Around 3,700 cattle were returned home unsold from marts in Munster, 3,215 in Connaught, 2,270 in Leinster and 1,185 in Ulster.

During the month of March alone, 158,819 cattle were sold in marts in Munster, which accounts for 28% of the cattle sold in marts during Q1 2025.

60,275 cattle were sold in marts in Leinster in March, 46,703 in Connaught and 24,279 in Ulster.

DAFM has also confirmed that 476,757 farm-to-farm movements of bovines were recorded up to the end of March this year.

This figure marks increase of 22,281 head or 5% on the same period in 2024 when 454,476 farm-to-farm movements were reported.

The data shows that 234,681 farm-to-farm movements recorded by cattle sellers in Munster, which is an increase of 1,567 on Q1 2024 (233,114).

There were 152,953 movements by sellers in Leinster (up 13,000 on Q1 2024), 55,194 in Connaught (up 4,919), and 33,929 (up 2,797) in Ulster by the end of March.