The number of cattle slaughtered in August 2013 was three per cent lower than in August 2012, according to the Central Statistics Office in an update this morning.

A further comparison of August 2013 and August 2012 slaughtering figures also shows that sheep slaughterings decreased by 4.2 per cent and pig slaughterings decreased by 8.9 per cent.

A comparison of figures for January-August 2013 with the corresponding 2012 period shows that cattle slaughterings increased by 8.9 per cent, sheep slaughterings increased by 9.6 per cent and pig slaughterings decreased by 2.3 per cent.

The CSO update  gives the number and carcass weight of cattle, sheep and pig slaughterings in the Republic of Ireland. The figures include slaughterings at both meat establishments approved by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and slaughterhouses and meat plants approved by local authorities.

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