Livestock numbers in Ireland have declined by almost one million

Omissions

• The MEP did not specify the time period (approximately 15 years from roughly 2010/2011 to 2025/2026)
• The figure refers to total livestock headcount decline, not a single year reduction
• Source attribution to Eurostat was omitted in the original claim

Sources

• PrimaryCSO Ireland - Crops and Livestock Survey Final Results June 2025Cattle numbers in Ireland decreased by 278,300 (-3.9%) to 6,904,800 in June 2025 compared to June 2024. The total cattle population is at a 12-year low.
• PrimaryEurostat - Agricultural production statisticsBetween 2004 and 2024, major livestock populations in EU decreased, with Ireland experiencing significant declines in livestock numbers over the past two decades.