Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 October 2006
450 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of animals (details supplied) that were in Ireland on the 1 January 2000; the number at the present time or the most recent figures available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31016/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent figures for the national herd indicate that the live cattle population in Ireland on July 1st 2006 was 7.089 million comprising 2.435 million males and 4.654 million females. These figures are based on an extract from the live cattle population taken from the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS) database. The information regarding the number of cows in the country at that time is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
It is not possible to give a corresponding live cattle population figure for 1st January 2000 taken from the CMMS database as the system was not fully operational at that time. However, the CSO Livestock Survey for December 1999 showed that the cattle population at that time was 6.707 million – 2.401 million males and 4.306 million females, of which 2.393 million were cows.
