Between January and May 2026, cattle slaughterings were down 12% compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
In the year to May 2026, the cattle kill is estimated to be 684,000 head, a decrease of 93,000 head on the same period in 2025.
Additionally, the number of cattle slaughtered in May of this year decreased by 0.6%, compared the same month in 2025.
This equates to 134,000 head, a fall of about 1,000 head compared to May 2025.
The beef trade has shown signs of improving this week following a difficult period for beef finishers.
Sheep and pigs
The number of sheep slaughtered between January and May 2026 dropped by 0.6% (6,000 head) to 962,000 head compared with the same period in 2025, analysis of Department of Agriculture data shows.
In May of this year, the number of sheep slaughtered stood at 191,000 head, an increase of 7,000 head (3.7%) when compared with May 2025.
Meanwhile, pig kill was estimated to be 1.5m head between January and May 2026, up 52,000 head (3.7%) on the same period in 2025.
The number of pigs slaughtered in Ireland in May 2026 was 278,000 head, a drop of 1.6% or 4,000 head on May 2025.
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