The 2026 factory cattle supply is forecast to remain at a similar level as 2025, which saw supplies drop by 213,000 head on the previous year, according to Bord Bia.

A presentation from Bord Bia's beef sector manager Mark Zieg at the recent Bord Bia Meat Marketing Seminar highlighted that 1.59 million cattle were slaughtered in Ireland in 2025.

This figure is back 213,000 head on the number of cattle slaughtered in 2024.