21,000 fewer cattle finished from CFU herds in Q1 of 2026
The number of cattle sourced from Controlled Finishing Units (CFU herds) for slaughter has fallen by 21,000 head in the first quarter of this year, latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) have shown.
In the first three months of 2026, a total of 104,000 head of cattle originating from CFUs were slaughtered at Irish factories.
This marks a decline of 21,000 head of cattle on the 125,000 cattle sourced from CFUs for slaughter in the first three months of 2025.
The table below details kill numbers at Irish EU-approved slaughter plants originating in CFUs:
| 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 37,000 | 40,000 | 40,000 | 33,000 |
| February | 35,500 | 39,000 | 42,000 | 34,000 |
| March | 36,500 | 36,000 | 43,000 | 37,000 |
| Total | 109,000 | 115,000 | 125,000 | 104,000 |
While the number of cattle sourced from CFUs fell by 21,000 head in this time, the total beef kill fell by over 66,000 head, according to DAFM figures.
What is a CFU herd?
As part of the bovine TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds - if they meet the necessary criteria - are allowed to avail of a special status, termed 'Controlled Finishing Unit'.
A CFU herd is a specialised finisher of beef that does not engage in the active breeding of animals. It is a non-breeding herd which disposes of all cattle on the holding direct for slaughter.
When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the bovine TB eradication programme, the herd is restricted under tuberculosis regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established.
Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal, or disinfection requirements.
To be considered eligible for CFU status, the holding must fulfil 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;
Cattle from CFU herds (feedlots) are only permitted to move to an EU-approved slaughter plant and may not be exported.
Number of CFU herds
The number of CFU herds operating in Ireland in 2025 was 506, according to DAFM.
The number has increased by 51 since December 2024 when there were 455 herds of this status.
As of November 2022, there were 374 of these herds in Ireland.
A total of 447,000 cattle originating from CFU herds were slaughtered at EU-approved factories in 2025. This figure marks a decline of 11,500 head on the CFU cattle supply in 2024.
