The total number of cattle in Ireland decreased by 0.4% in December 2025 to 6,284,100, a drop of 24,200 compared with December 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

Dairy cow numbers rose by 0.6% to 1,490,400, an increase of 9,100 cows, while the number of other cows dropped by 2.2% to 750,600, a reduction of 17,200.

Bull numbers dropped by 200 or 0.3%.

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Cork came in as the county with the highest number of cattle at 915,300, the data shows.

The county with the largest number of dairy cows was also Cork with 352,700, followed by Tipperary with 174,600.

Sheep and pigs

The number of sheep increased by 2.7% to 3,689,700, a jump of 98,000 in December 2025 compared with the same month in 2024.

A regional analysis shows the west had the highest number of sheep at 1,019,800, while the midwest had the lowest number at 152,900.

In December 2025, pig numbers stood at 1,459,500, a drop of 14,200 or 0.96%.

In 2025, the estimated number of pigs in the State was informed by the national pig census carried out by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Data shows the largest number of pigs was in the border region with 330,700, while the smallest number of pigs was in the west region at 35,500.