The Irish suckler cow population is showing signs of stabilising, with numbers declining by just over 3,000 head or 0.5% in 2025 when compared to 2024.

To put this into perspective, from December 31, 2023 to December 31, 2024, suckler cow numbers fell by over 49,000 head or over 6%, according to figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF).

Speaking at the Bord Bia Meat Marketing Seminar last week, the Irish food board's beef and livestock sector manager, Joe Burke expressed optimism that the higher prices for weanlings seen in 2025 will encourage "more stability" in suckler cow numbers.

His presentation focused on the longer-term horizon for the beef sector to 2030 and beyond.

Burkes' presentation forecasted that continued contraction in the UK and EU beef production is expected, with shrinking cattle herds compounded by disease outbreaks noted as attributing factors to this.

The data below details suckler and dairy cow numbers as of December 31 from 2014 to 2025:

As can be seen from the data above, dairy cow numbers increased by 1.2% in 2025 with just under 1.49 million dairy cows recorded as of December 31, 2025.

Burkes' forecast on the Irish cattle supply outlook is for more stability in beef kill numbers, with no further dramatic reduction in cattle supply numbers foreseen.

Burke also noted that carcass weights are expected to improve further in the years ahead after an increase in average carcass weights for 2025.