The CSO figures published on Thursday 25 August show that the number of slaughtered cattle is down 5.8% in July 2016 compared with July 2015. Some 144 cattle were slaughtered in July 2015 compared with 136 cattle in July 2016. Sheep slaughterings also decreased by 13.5%, while pig slaughterings decreased by 6.4%.

However, there was an overall increase in animal slaughterings between January and July 2016 compared with the corresponding period of 2015. Cattle slaughterings increased by 1.4%, sheep slaughterings increased by 1.5% and pig slaughterings increased by 3.6%.

The figures from the CSO include slaughterings at both meat establishments approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by local authorities.

Data on the number of slaughterings in meat establishments approved by the DAFM for cattle, sheep and pigs is obtained monthly from the Department of Agriculture, while the CSO conducts a monthly survey of all local authorities.

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