Over 1.86 million cattle were sold at Irish marts in 2025, according to the latest data published by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

This represents a decrease of over of almost 22,300 head when compared to the 1.88 million cattle sold in marts across the country in the previous year.

The data shows that 49,879 cattle were returned home from marts last year, down significantly on the 89,435 cattle that went unsold in 2024.

In total, 1,912,461 cattle went through Irish marts last year, down almost 62,000 head from 1,974,285 in 2024.

The table below details the number of cattle sold at Irish marts by province in 2025 compared to 2024:

As in previous years, marts in Munster recorded by far the highest throughput of cattle sold at 887,605, down from 887,605 in 2024.

The number of cattle sold in marts in Leinster is continuing to increase. 446,825 cattle were sold in marts in the province last year, which is up over 6,500 head on the 2024 figure of 440,295.

There was a significant drop of over 12,500 cattle sold in marts in Ulster in 2025 to stand at 166,552.

While in Connacht marts there were 361,600 cattle sold, down from 367,964 in 2024.

16,354 cattle were returned home from Munster marts in 2025, 15,812 from Connacht marts, 12,623 in Leinster and 5,090 in Ulster.

DAFM

The department data shows the number of farm-to-farm movements of cattle in 2025 stood at 1.27 million down nearly 67,000 head from the 1.30 million cattle traded from farm to farm in 2024.

The table below details the number of cattle sold from farm-to-farm by province in 2025 compared to the previous year:

The most notable decrease in farm-to-farm cattle sales was recorded in Munster, falling from 635,853 in 2024 to 571,791 last year.

Farm-to-farm cattle sales in Leinster increased by almost 1,400 head to 420,688.