Value of beef, pork and poultry exceeds €7 million

The number of cows slaughtered for meat rose by 16.7 per cent last year, according to the latest statistics.

Even pig slaughter increased by 3.1 per cent but chicken slaughter dropped by 0.5 per cent. Curiously, the overall weight of both cows and pigs fell by 4.4 per cent and by 5.3 per cent respectively, although the weight of chickens rose by five per cent. As a result, beef and poultry production rose by 11.5 per cent and by 4.5 per cent respectively but pork production fell by 2.3 per cent.

The overall value of beef, pork and poultry together rose by 11.2 per cent to €7.1 million.

Rabbits slaughtered are not included in the figures because the slaughter of rabbits is officially considered to be a backyard pindustry.