An analysis of the latest Animal Identification and Movement data published by the Department of Agriculture for 1 July 2026 shows the cattle herd standing 177,821 head higher than on 1 July 2025.
There are a number of factors underpinning the 2.6% increase in throughput. The big changes are 50,570 more beef males and females on farms in the 12 to 18-month age bracket and 52,061 more cattle in the 24 to 30-month age bracket.
This has been influenced by greater use of beef genetics in the dairy herd fuelling growth in beef-sired animals, while a stabilisation in the suckler cow herd and a recovery in dairy herd growth is also boosting numbers. The number of suckler cows on farms stood at 785,798 head, up 21,552 head compared to 1 July 2026. The dairy herd stood 31,757 head higher at 1.61m head.
The only significant category of animals running at a lower level is dairy replacement heifers. This is stemming from 36,494 fewer dairy heifers in the 12 to 18-month age bracket. This trend is reversing with 31,465 more heifers on farms aged three to six months of age.
The higher number of beef cattle on farms has supported a higher beef kill in recent months with the kill currently running over 6,000 head in recent weeks. It does have to be pointed out however that throughput in 2025 was unusually low with the kill running behind the five-year average trend.
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