Over 15,000 ROI cattle sent to NI for direct slaughter in 2025

Over 15,000 cattle were imported into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland for direct slaughter in 2025, according to new data.

The figures, published by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), show 8,056 male cattle aged over 6 months were imported into Northern Ireland for direct slaughter from Ireland.

There were 7,323 female cattle over 6 months imported, along with 11 bulls over 6 months, giving an overall total of 15,390 cattle sent for direct slaughter from Ireland.

Cattle

The department confirmed that 32,514 store and breeding cattle were imported into Northern Ireland from Ireland last year.

This included 16,185 female animals over 6 months, 8,435 male animals over 6 months and 7,894 calves (under 6 months).

The first quarter (Q1) of 2025 saw the highest number of store and breeding cattle (13,569) sent from Ireland to farms in Northern Ireland.

In March 2025, 3,832 calves were imported to farms in Northern Ireland.

A total of 2,290 cattle were exported from Northern Ireland to Ireland for direct slaughter last year, including 2,118 female animals over 6 months, 166 males animals over 6 months and 6 bulls over 6 months.

Meanwhile, 942 store and breeding cattle were exported to farms in Ireland.

803 cattle were exported from Northern Ireland to Great Britain for direct slaughter, with 2,759 breeding and store animals exported.

Sheep

The data, sourced from the NI Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS), also shows that 172 breeding and store sheep were imported into Northern Ireland from Ireland last year.

There were no sheep sent from Ireland to Northern Ireland for direct slaughter.

231,726 sheep were exported from Northern Ireland to Ireland for direct slaughter.

Some 31,228 breeding and store sheep were also exported to farms in Ireland during the year.

Over 47,500 sheep were sent from Northern Ireland to Great Britain for direct slaughter, with 111,224 breeding and store sheep exported.

DAERA noted that the published figures are provisional and subject to change.

.editor-styles-wrapper .wp-block-acf-related-stories-block {
max-width: 960px !important;
background-color: var(–color-gray-default);
padding-inline: 40px;
padding-top: 8px !important;
padding-bottom: 20px !important;
}