Number of CFU herds rise but supplies from these decline in 2025
The number of Controlled Finishing Unit (CFU) herds operating in Ireland increased in 2025 but the number of cattle slaughtered from these herds declined.
The number of CFU herds operating in Ireland in 2025 was 506, according to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (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.
The table below gives a breakdown of the number of CFU herds slaughtering 0-100 cattle, 100-500 cattle, 500-1,000 cattle and so on:
| Number of cattle slaughtered: | 0-100 | 100-500 | 500-1,000 | 1,000-2,000 | 2,000-5,000 | 5,000-10,000 | 10,000 plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of CFU herds within this range: | 60 | 232 | 80 | 60 | 37 | 13 | 5 |
According to DAFM data, the month with the highest slaughter numbers from CFU herds was March, with 43,000 cattle sourced from CFU herds for slaughter.
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 the TB 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.
