There has been a slight ease in the number of beef cattle slaughtered in Department of Agriculture approved beef export plants.
During the week ending October 16, the weekly beef kill reached 35,683 head, a fall of just 318 head or 0.9% on the week before.
All of the main categories of cattle, with the exception of steers, posted a fall in throughput last week.
Young bull slaughterings posted the highest fall, with supplies down by 10.8% or 264 head on the week before.
Furthermore, aged bull, cow and heifers slaughterings all dropped last week, with supplies back by 33 head (-5.8%), -130 head (-1.6%) and 102 head (-1.3%) respectively.
However, there was a slight increase in steer slaughterings, with the weekly beef kill of these animals up 1.2% or 200 head on the week before.
- Aged bulls: -264 head or -10.8%
- Young bulls: -33 head or -5.8%
- Steers: +200 head or +1.2%
- Cows: -130 head or -1.6%
- Heifers: -102 head or -1.3%
- Total: -318 head or -0.9%
Cumulative beef cattle supplies
Figures from the Department of Agriculture also show that an additional 55,646 cattle __have been slaughtered in Ireland this year compared to the same time in 2015.
Young bulls account for the majority of this increase, with year-on-year throughput up 28.6% or 34,367 head on 2015.
Cow and heifer slaughterings __have also increased, it shows, with an additional 20,981 cows culled this year, while heifer throughput has increased by 1.2% or 4,106 head.
However, official figures also show that there has been some decline in aged bull slaughterings, which have declined by 4,004 head or 14% on 2015, while steer slaughterings remain pretty much on par.
- Young bulls: +34,367 head or +28.6%
- Aged bulls: -4,004 head or -14%
- Steers: +191 head or 0%
- Cows: +20,981 head or +8.2%
- Heifers: +4,106 head or +1.2%
- Total: +55,646 head or +4.5%
