According to the Department of Agriculture, the total number of reported cattle thefts from the beginning of this year up until 18 December is 204, a rise of 58 thefts on 2014. A total of 146 cattle were reported as stolen last year, with 48% of all thefts occurring in counties along the border with Northern Ireland. However, this number was down significantly on 2013 figures, when a total of 298 cattle were reported stolen from farms in the Republic.

By far the largest theft to have occurred this year took place halfway between Tyrellspass and Kilbeggan in Co Westmeath in June, when a husband and wife had 75 cattle and 25 sheep stolen in a raid.

Taking this enormous theft, widely termed the "largest livestock theft in the history of the State", out of the equation would bring the total number of thefts drops to 129, 17 thefts below last year's figure.

The second largest number of thefts in 2015 occurred in Co Cork, with 21 thefts reported in the county this year. Following that was Co Louth and Co Monaghan, both which reported a total of 14 thefts in 2015.

With Co Westmeath and Co Cork leading the way in terms of number of cattle thefts this year, the trend moves away from the usual pattern whereby the majority of thefts take place along the border with Northern Ireland.

For a full breakdown of cattle thefts across the Republic in 2015, see the chart below: