The number of prime cattle slaughtered in Irish beef plants continues to rise on a weekly basis.
Figures from the Department of Agriculture’s beef kill database shows that the combined number of steer, heifer and young bull slaughterings increased last week.
According to the Department, just over 23,600 prime cattle were slaughtered during the week ending August 28, a jump of almost 4% or 871 head compared to the week earlier.
Steers, heifers and young bulls accounted for the majority of this increase, with throughput numbers jumping by 1.9% (267 head), 2.4% (170 head) and 5.2% (110 head) respectively.
However, despite the increase in prime slaughterings, official figures show that the weekly aged bull kill declined by almost 16%.
While, the number of cows slaughtered during the week ending August 28 increased by 419 head or 6.2% compared to the week before.
Figures from the Department also show that there has been a marked increase in the number of cattle slaughtered at beef plants this year compared to the same time last year.
Official figures show that cattle supplies have increased by 2.9% or 29,291 head during the first eight months of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
Young bulls account for the majority of this increase, with supplies up by almost 29% or 31,191 head, with the cumulative cow kill is also up by 3.9% or 8,379 head.
But, despite the overall increase, there has been some fall off in the number of aged bull, steers and heifer slaughterings, which have declined by 14.7% (3,576 head), 1.7% (6,330 head) and 0.1% (515 head) respectively.
Beef supplies jump 3% in 2016