The number of Irish cattle processed at EU-approved slaughter plants sourced from controlled finishing units (CFUs) increased by 9,000 head in October of this year when compared to October 2023.
According to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) figures, 41,500 cattle from CFUs were slaughtered in October of this year, an increase of 9,000 head from the 32,500 head slaughtered from CFUs in October 2023.
The number of cattle slaughtered from CFUs in September 2024 was up 8,000 head on the same month of the previous year.
The table below details the kill numbers at EU-approved slaughter plants sourced from Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs) from 2017 up to 2024 to date:
Month 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Jan: 20,000 24,000 28,000 25,000 25,500 28,500 37,000 40,000 Feb: 20,000 24,500 26,000 27,000 25,500 35,000 35,500 39,000 Mar: 21,500 24,500 27,000 27,000 28,500 36,000 36,500 36,000 Apr: 19,500 26,000 29,000 20,000 28,000 35,500 31,500 36,500 May: 25,000 29,000 31,000 22,500 28,500 40,000 37,500 39,000 June: 24,500 27,500 25,500 26,500 32,000 35,500 36,500 36,500 July: 19,500 24,500 26,000 26,500 30,500 34,000 32,500 36,500 Aug: 20,000 21,500 20,000 21,000 25,500 32,000 28,500 30,500 Sept: 18,500 18,500 13,000 22,000 25,500 32,000 27,500 35,500 Oct: 20,500 23,500 21,500 24,000 27,000 30,500 32,500 41,500 Nov: 28,500 26,500 20,000 27,500 31,500 41000 43,000 – Dec: 25,500 25,000 21,500 30,000 33,000 36,500 37,000 – Total 263,000 295,000 288,500 299,000 341,000 416,500 415,500 371,000
As the table above indicates, the numbers of cattle originating from CFUs are continuing to grow on a yearly basis despite dropping slightly overall last year.
CFUs
As part of Ireland’s Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) eradication programme, if a beef finishing herd meets the necessary criteria, it is allowed to avail of a special status – known as a CFU.
In November 2022, there were 374 CFUs or ‘feedlots’ in Ireland.
A CFU herd is a specialised finisher of beef that does not deliberately engage in the active breeding of animals. It is a non-breeding herd which disposes of all cattle on the holding direct for slaughter, and poses a minimal risk of infecting cattle on adjacent holdings.
To be considered eligible for CFU status, the holding must fulfill at least one of the following three criteria:
- The cattle are permanently housed (never on pasture) or;
- There are no contiguous holdings with cattle or;
- The boundaries are walled, double-fenced or equivalent, so as to prevent any direct contact with cattle on contiguous holdings;
- When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the bovine TB Eradication Programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established.
Such herds are not exempt from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements. Restricted CFU herds (feedlots) are TB tested at least once a year.
According to DAFM, the CFU status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation, and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle.
Cattle from CFU herds (feedlots) restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to an EU approved slaughter plant and may not be exported.