The number of cattle in Ireland in June 2025 was 6,904,800 - a fall of 278,300 (-3.9%) when compared with June 2024. 

That is according to the Crops and Livestock Survey Final Results June 2025 published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The total number of dairy cows fell by 36,100 (-2.2%) while the total number of other cows declined by 46,800 (-5.7%).

The total number of cattle aged two years and over fell by 59,400 (-7.3%) in the year since 2024. 

Regional

The number of sheep in June 2025 was 5,098,500 - a fall of 77,200 (-1.5%) when compared with June 2024.

The number of pigs in June 2025 was 1,566,500, down 113,400 (-6.8%) when compared with the previous June. 

Stephanie Kelleher, statistician in the agriculture division of the CSO, said: "A regional analysis of the livestock numbers shows that the largest number of cattle (1,369,600) were in the mid-west region.

"The largest number of sheep (1,426,100) were in the west region and the largest number of pigs (507,500) were in the border region," Kelleher said.

Area farmed

The total area farmed in June 2025 fell by just 300 hectares to 4,488,100 hectares when compared with June 2024.

The area used for cereal production increased by 13,000 hectares (+4.9%) to 274,900 hectares.

Grassland, which accounts for more than 90% of total area farmed, fell by 0.4% in 2025 when compared with 2024.

Kelleher said: "Regarding the three main cereals, the land areas under winter wheat, winter oats and winter barley all increased by 19,100 hectares (+46.9%), 10,500 ha (+140.3%) and 14,000 ha (+32.4%) respectively in June 2025 when compared with June 2024.

"The areas under spring wheat, spring oats and spring barley decreased by 2,400 hectares (-33.4%), 6,400 hectares (-28.8%) and 22,900 hectares (-16.5%) compared with June 2024."