Income on cattle farms increased substantially in 2025.

Teagasc has published the final confirmed results of the National Farm Survey for last year, along with factsheets on a number of sectors.

The figures confirm considerable increases in farm incomes for 2025 versus 2024, although the disparity in farm incomes was clear.

Cattle rearing farms

There were approximately 18,620 cattle rearing farms represented in the National Farm Survey, with an average family farm income (FFI) of €23,291 (the highest on record), up 68% year-on-year.

Suckler cow production is the dominant enterprise on these farms.

Higher cattle prices drove the improvement in margins.

Averaged over the year, prices for weanlings, store and finished cattle were up dramatically in 2025 on 2024 levels.

On cattle rearing farms in 2025, average gross output increased by 19% to €56,860 compared to 2024.

Schemes

Scheme participation and associated support payments continued to be critical in supporting cattle rearing income in 2025, Teagasc said.

The average amount of support payments received on cattle rearing farms decreased by 4% in 2025, to €16,945.

Total production costs for the average cattle rearing farm in 2025 remained elevated but down slightly (by 1% compared to 2024) at €33,568.

This was driven by a decrease in overhead costs and stability in direct costs.

Costs

Direct costs on the average cattle rearing farm in 2025 were relatively unchanged at €15,933.

In terms of individual cost items, expenditure on fertiliser increased by 17% to €2,715 on average.

This was due to the rise in price, as the data indicates a decrease in the volume used on cattle rearing farms in 2025, following some increase in 2024.

Spending on bulky feed increased by 36% to €788, on average.

Farm size down

The average size of a cattle rearing farm decreased by 9% in 2025 to 29ha.

Total livestock units declined by 12% on the average cattle rearing farm in 2025, to 30.

The average gross margin on a per hectare basis on cattle rearing farms in 2025 increased by 44% to €1,406.

One-third of cattle rearing farms reported an average FFI of between €20,000 and €50,000 in 2025, with almost one-tenth reporting a FFI above €50,000.

A further one-quarter of farms reported an average FFI of between €10,000 and €20,000.

The data indicates that one-fifth of cattle rearing farms earned between €5,000 and €10,000 in 2025.

On 51% of cattle rearing farms, the holder also worked off-farm in 2025.