The number of cattle slaughtered in September 2015 was 9.5% lower than in September 2014, latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) show.
A further comparison of September 2015 and September 2014 slaughtering figures also shows that sheep slaughterings decreased by 1.6%.
Looking at pig slaughterings, the CSO figures show that slaughterings increased by 2.6%.
Looking at the figures for he first nine months of 2015 and comparing them to the corresponding period in 2014, there was a decrease in cattle slaughterings of 4.5%.
Sheep slaughterings for January to September 2015 compared to the same period for 2014 decreased by 0.5%.
Pig slaughterings in the first nine months of the year were up 6.7% on the corresponding period last year, CSO figures show.
Cattle prices have turned a corner – IFA National Livestock Chairman
IFA National Livestock Chairman Henry Burns said cattle prices have turned the corner.
He said with very tight supplies, down 5,500 head per week on last year, cattle farmers are determined to get more and are insisting on a base price of €4.00/kg base for steers and €4.10/kg base for heifers.
He said some factories had parted with these prices to get very scarce supplies this week.
Henry Burns said with the Department of Agriculture official figures showing that finished cattle supplies in the 24 to 36 month age group are back by 70,000 head compared to this time last year, the availability of prime steers and heifers to the factories heading into the peak Christmas demand will be extremely tight.
With cattle prices in our main export market in Britain over the equivalent of €5.00/kg, it is clear cattle prices can rise.
“It is essential that Minister Coveney turns the announcements on the opening of new markets into real market outlets that take real volumes.
“The lack of progress on opening the US market for manufacturing beef was disappointing and Ireland was losing out on a real higher price opportunity this year,” he said.