Irish Cattle Numbers Lower in December
IRELAND - The results of the December 2009 CSO livestock survey show lower cattle and sheep numbers with falls of two per cent and seven per cent respectively, according to Peter Duggan from the Strategic Information Services at Bord Bia.
22 March 2010
2 minute read
Source - CSO
A drop of two per cent was recorded in cow numbers at 2.58 million head as stable dairy cow numbers were more than offset by a drop of four per cent in beef cow numbers. Breeding ewe numbers were six per cent lower in December.
In terms of breeding replacements in the cattle herd, the number of breeding heifers for the suckler cow herd showed a fall of 10 per cent to 119,000 head while dairy replacements were broadly stable.
The number of “other cattle” fell by one per cent to 3.27 million head. Cattle aged two years and more increased by more than 11 per cent to 533,000 head.
This trend reflects the current pattern of significantly higher disposals to date at export meat plants.
Cattle aged between one and two years of age were virtually unchanged at 1.17 million head. In response to the stronger live trade for calves, weanlings and stores in 2009, the number of cattle aged less than one year fell by five per cent or 87,000 head.
The greatest decline in the sheep flock occurred in the other sheep category, where a drop of over nine per cent was recorded at 742,600 head.
This has been reflected by lower supplies to date at export meat plants. Breeding ewe numbers were back by over six per cent to 2.37 million head. However, the number of breeding sheep under two years old was unchanged at 409,300 head, which may indicate some sign of stabilisation in the flock.
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