The latest Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system figures for 1 May 2026 published by the Department of Agriculture show the potential for higher beef throughput in the second half of 2026.

An analysis of the figures compared with 1 May 2025 shows 63,436 more cattle on farms in the 24- to 30-month age category.

As detailed in Table 1, there were 21,876 more beef males on farms along with 34,392 more beef males on farms.

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There was also 7,168 more dairy males present, as captured in Figure 1. The number of older cattle in the 30- to 36-month and 36- to 42-month age categories also stood 6,902 head and 10,755 head higher respectively.

Longer term, there is also an increase in the number of beef cattle on farms in the 12- to 18-month age category, which is running 35,210 head higher. This is in contrast to the 18- to 24-month age category, which is slightly lower at almost 2,000 head less.

Suckler cows and dairy cows

There is more positivity around the national suckler cow herd, with the AIM data showing an increase of approximately 11,000 cows, at 771,973 head.

This figure is boosted by over 4,000 more cows in the 24- to 30-month age bracket and backs up reports of some farmers serving more heifers.

Figures here were struggling to build significantly throughout 2025, with a high cull cow price encouraging farmers to move any suckler cows presenting with any issues.

There has also been some growth in the national dairy herd after a short period of slight contraction.

The number of dairy cows on farms increased by 34,125 head to 1.648 million head, as detailed in Table 2.

The number of replacement heifers on farms is still running at a negative figure, owing to over 36,000 fewer heifers on farms aged 12 to 18 months of age.

There is 9,701 more dairy heifers on farms aged three to six months of age on 1 May and 22,328 more heifers aged zero to three months of age.