The number of dairy cows in Ireland stood at 1,481,300 in December 2024, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The CSO livestock survey results for December 2024 show that this figure is down by 2% or 29,600 animals when compared to a year previously (1,510,900).

The report found that the total number of cattle decreased by 217,700 (-3.3%) to 6,308,300 in December 2024 compared with December 2023.

The number of other cows decreased by 50,700 (-6.2%) to 767,800 head and the number of bulls rose by 1,300 (+2.7%) to 48,500.

The CSO noted that when cows and bulls were excluded, there was a decrease in the number of Other Cattle.

Male cattle from 1-2 years were down by 54,000 (-6.9%) and female cattle aged 1-2 Years decreased by 49,500 (-4.9%).

The number of heifers increased by 6.6%, as did male cattle aged 2 years and over (0.3%).

The data also shows that the total number of pigs in Ireland rose by 66,100 in the year to December 2024 to 1,473,700 (+4.7%).

Breeding pigs were down from 126,800 to 122,200 (-3.6%), while other sows for breeding showed the largest decrease, dropping by 5,800 (-19.2%).

Other pigs increased by 70,700 (+5.5%) to 1,351,500 in December 2024, with pigs 80kg and over showing the largest increase of 25,100 (+9.2%).

This was followed by pigs 50kg and under rising by 18,400 (+6.6%).

Commenting on the report, Stephanie Kelleher, statistician in the agriculture section of the CSO, said:

"Provisional figures for the total number of sheep showed a decrease of 103,900 (-2.8%) compared with December 2023 to just under 3.64 million.

"The number of breeding sheep was down by 73,100 (-2.8%) to 2.58 million, while the number of other sheep also dropped by 30,800 (-2.8%) to 1.05 million."