national sheep and goat census 2016 cover sheep and goat census december 2016 council regulation...
TRANSCRIPT
IRELAND
National Sheep and Goat CensusDecember 2016
National Sheep and Goat Census
December 2016
Council Regulation (EC) No. 21/2004 obliges all Member States to carry out an annual
census of sheep and goats. This national census, which records the number of sheep
and goats kept in Ireland on 31st December 2016, is the twelfth such census, the first
having been carried out in December 2005.
Data from the 2016 census returns record that a total of 3.92 million sheep were kept in
the country at the end December 2016, representing an increase of 160,000 on the total
numbers recorded for 2015. The 2016 census result represents a continuation in the
increase in sheep numbers across the country over the last number of years, bringing
overall numbers very close to the high of 4 million sheep recorded in DAFM’s first
census in 2005.
2016 goat census returns record a total of 7,874 goats kept in registered herds at end
December 2016. This represents a decrease of almost 2,000 on the figures recorded
in respect of 2015.
Sheep
Sheep census forms for 2016 were sent to 44,866 sheep flock-keepers registered on
this Department’s database. Returns were received from 41,276, representing a
response rate of 92%. A total of 4,963 respondents recorded no sheep in December
2016 with 1,246 of this number indicating that they do not intend to return to sheep
farming in the near future. The overall number of flock owners who declared that they
had sheep in December 2016 was 36,313 which is an increase of 1,059 (approx 3%) on
the December 2015 figure of 35,254.
Census returns record that at December 2016 Ireland had 3.92 million sheep
(3,918,025) in 36,313 flocks. This figure includes 2.64 million breeding ewes over 12
months of age which is an increase of approx 140,000 (5%) on the previous year’s
population of approx. 2.5 million breeding ewes. There was an average of 108 sheep
per flock compared to 107 sheep per flock in 2015. A total of 69% of flocks (24,942)
contain sheep numbers below the average flock size which is the same percentage
figure as that in 2014 and 2015.
The total number of sheep declared in December 2016 represents an increase of
approximately 160,000 (4%) on the total number declared in December 2015 and
reflects the highest levels recorded since 2005.
Number of Sheep and Number of Flocks by County
December 2016
County No. of Flocks
Avg Flock Size
Breeding Ewes over 12 Months Old
Rams Other Sheep
Total Sheep
Carlow 754 153 77,981 2,288 35,023 115,292
Cavan 958 80 49,893 2,397 24,549 76,839
Clare 619 42 17,323 740 8,006 26,069
Cork 1,794 104 124,245 3,768 57,690 185,703
Donegal 5,967 83 340,228 11,098 143,837 495,163
Dublin 207 123 17,880 597 6,901 25,378
Galway 4,309 101 290,079 8,484 136,130 434,693
Kerry 2,463 130 241,714 6,440 73,218 321,372
Kildare 717 164 78,692 2,506 36,680 117,878
Kilkenny 521 140 48,475 1,553 22,652 72,680
Laois 475 121 35,199 1,178 21,171 57,548
Leitrim 1,115 97 78,104 2,637 27,847 108,588
Limerick 256 90 14,495 605 7,956 23,056
Longford 452 92 27,012 1,320 13,225 41,557
Louth 391 149 37,070 1,171 20,063 58,304
Mayo 4,897 87 304,162 9,129 110,302 423,593
Meath 1,080 156 110,324 3,633 54,814 168,771
Monaghan 515 95 30,102 1,196 17,547 48,845
Offaly 630 135 49,290 1,908 33,603 84,801
Roscommon 1,859 103 127,579 4,115 59,760 191,454
Sligo 1,603 83 96,856 3,169 32,820 132,845
Tipperary 986 134 80,579 2,471 48,670 131,720
Waterford 442 154 47,942 1,340 18,668 67,950
Westmeath 787 115 59,036 2,050 29,088 90,174
Wexford 1,155 146 94,766 3,006 70,675 168,447
Wicklow 1,361 183 161,022 4,773 83,510 249,305
TOTAL 36,313 108 2,640,048 83,572 1,194,405 3,918,025
115,292
76,839
26,069
185,703
495,163
25,378434,693
321,372
117,878
72,680
57,548
108,588
23,056
41,557
58,304423,593
168,771
48,845
84,801
191,454
132,845
131,720
67,950
90,174
168,447
249,305
December 2016
754
958
619
1,794
5,967
2074,309
2,463
717
521
475
1,115
256
452
3914,897
1,080
515
630
1,859
1,603
986
442
787
1,155
1,361
December 2016
Breakdown of Breeding Flock by Ewe, Ram, Other
Data on breakdown of the breeding flock according to breeding ewes, breeding rams
and other sheep have been collected as part of the annual census since 2009. These
figures show that, apart from a slight decrease in all categories in 2013, the overall
trend is that the breeding flock has been increasing steadily since 2009. Since 2009 the
number of breeding ewes has increased by 21%, rams by 21%, other sheep by 46%
and total sheep by 27%. The Tables below illustrate the make-up of the breeding flock
over the last 8 years.
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ewes 2,189,504 2,200,526 2,355,881 2,473,871 2,458,600 2,420,374 2,503,011 2,640,048
Rams 69,162 70,118 76,113 80,107 76,569 80,432 84,931 83,572
Other 816,131 845,588 1,048,660 1,025,241 995,633 1,081,012 1,172,483 1,194,405
Total 3,074,797 3,116,232 3,480,654 3,579,219 3,530,802 3,581,818 3,760,425 3,918,025
% Change over Previous Year
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ewes 1% 7% 5% -1% -2% 3% 5%
Rams 1% 9% 5% -4% 5% 6% -2%
Other 4% 24% -2% -3% 9% 8% 2%
Total 1% 12% 3% -1% 1% 5% 4%
Cumulative % Change since 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Ewes 1% 8% 13% 12% 11% 14% 21%
Rams 1% 10% 16% 11% 16% 23% 21%
Other 4% 28% 26% 22% 32% 44% 46%
Total 1% 13% 16% 15% 16% 22% 27%
All % figures have been rounded for reporting purposes
Breakdown of Ewes, Rams and Other according to Breed Category
The following tables give a further breakdown by county of ewes, rams and other sheep
according to breed category i.e. Mountain, Mountain Cross, Lowland and Lowland
Cross.
Breeding Ewes over 12 Months of Age by Breed Type Category
County
Mountain Mountain Cross Lowland Lowland Cross Total Ewes No. % of
County No. % of
County No. % of
County No. % of
County
Carlow 8,679 11% 12,123 16% 22,339 28% 34,840 45% 77,981
Cavan 5,896 12% 11,570 23% 12,548 25% 19,879 40% 49,893
Clare 1,095 6% 1,247 7% 7,151 41% 7,830 46% 17,323
Cork 44,047 36% 34,017 27% 18,289 15% 27,892 22% 124,245
Donegal 123,232 36% 74,671 22% 49,754 15% 92,571 27% 340,228
Dublin 4,583 26% 2,340 13% 2,543 14% 8,414 47% 17,880
Galway 71,796 25% 21,343 7% 93,241 32% 103,699 36% 290,079
Kerry 138,994 58% 68,490 28% 11,345 5% 22,885 9% 241,714
Kildare 15,557 20% 9,283 12% 20,467 26% 33,385 42% 78,692
Kilkenny 2,633 5% 4,490 9% 18,335 38% 23,017 48% 48,475
Laois 1,416 4% 3,497 10% 13,584 39% 16,702 47% 35,199
Leitrim 20,264 26% 38,808 50% 4,860 6% 14,172 18% 78,104
Limerick 4,291 30% 2,075 14% 4,470 31% 3,659 25% 14,495
Longford 1,486 6% 1,841 7% 11,601 43% 12,084 44% 27,012
Louth 7,653 21% 7,417 20% 7,814 21% 14,186 38% 37,070
Mayo 158,802 52% 46,218 15% 38,203 13% 60,939 20% 304,162
Meath 4,685 4% 7,373 7% 42,625 39% 55,641 50% 110,324
Monaghan 693 2% 830 3% 11,540 38% 17,039 57% 30,102
Offaly 1,685 3% 2,614 5% 20,864 42% 24,127 50% 49,290
Roscommon 4,380 3% 7,690 6% 50,238 39% 65,271 52% 127,579
Sligo 33,437 35% 20,359 21% 16,567 17% 26,493 27% 96,856
Tipperary 20,324 25% 11,067 14% 25,125 31% 24,063 30% 80,579
Waterford 24,794 52% 8,333 17% 4,932 10% 9,883 21% 47,942
Westmeath 1,774 3% 5,713 10% 22,071 37% 29,478 50% 59,036
Wexford 5,261 6% 10,237 11% 29,615 31% 49,653 52% 94,766
Wicklow 61,480 38% 42,348 27% 18,238 11% 38,956 24% 161,022
TOTAL 768,937 29% 455,994 17% 578,359 22% 836,758 32% 2,640,048
Breeding Rams by Breed Type Category
County
Mountain Mountain Cross Lowland Lowland Cross Totals
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
Carlow 137 6% 117 5% 1,522 67% 512 22% 2,288
Cavan 175 7% 274 11% 1,078 46% 870 36% 2,397
Clare 33 4% 26 4% 501 68% 180 24% 740
Cork 809 21% 458 12% 1,857 50% 644 17% 3,768
Donegal 2,732 25% 1,283 12% 5,121 45% 1,962 18% 11,098
Dublin 102 17% 57 10% 380 63% 58 10% 597
Galway 1,580 19% 257 3% 4,945 58% 1,702 20% 8,484
Kerry 2,515 39% 1,103 17% 2,094 33% 728 11% 6,440
Kildare 197 8% 93 4% 1,730 69% 486 19% 2,506
Kilkenny 32 2% 125 8% 1,151 74% 245 16% 1,553
Laois 73 6% 23 2% 901 77% 181 15% 1,178
Leitrim 481 18% 746 28% 920 35% 490 19% 2,637
Limerick 95 16% 10 2% 386 63% 114 19% 605
Longford 255 19% 18 1% 704 54% 343 26% 1,320
Louth 143 12% 85 7% 717 62% 226 19% 1,171
Mayo 3,019 33% 792 9% 3,751 41% 1,567 17% 9,129
Meath 76 2% 219 6% 2,771 76% 567 16% 3,633
Monaghan 20 2% 13 1% 848 71% 315 26% 1,196
Offaly 27 1% 312 16% 1,174 62% 395 21% 1,908
Roscommon 106 3% 88 2% 2,665 64% 1,256 31% 4,115
Sligo 562 18% 286 9% 1,676 53% 645 20% 3,169
Tipperary 367 15% 305 12% 1,408 57% 391 16% 2,471
Waterford 488 36% 84 6% 609 46% 159 12% 1,340
Westmeath 34 2% 35 2% 1,510 73% 471 23% 2,050
Wexford 140 5% 107 4% 2,102 69% 657 22% 3,006
Wicklow 1,185 25% 474 10% 2,634 55% 480 10% 4,773
TOTAL 15,383 18% 7,390 9% 45,155 54% 15,644 19% 83,572
Other Sheep by Breed Type Category
County
Mountain Mountain Cross Lowland Lowland Cross Totals
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
Carlow 2,987 9% 5,534 16% 10,333 30% 16,169 45% 35,023
Cavan 3,450 14% 5,618 23% 7,009 29% 8,472 34% 24,549
Clare 329 4% 904 11% 3,612 46% 3,161 39% 8,006
Cork 12,159 21% 20,066 35% 11,017 19% 14,448 25% 57,690
Donegal 40,948 28% 33,753 23% 23,195 16% 45,941 33% 143,837
Dublin 1,527 22% 959 14% 1,125 16% 3,290 48% 6,901
Galway 23,312 17% 12,750 9% 46,739 34% 53,329 40% 136,130
Kerry 36,428 50% 22,103 30% 4,353 6% 10,334 14% 73,218
Kildare 5,616 15% 5,930 16% 9,112 25% 16,022 44% 36,680
Kilkenny 678 3% 2,900 13% 8,927 39% 10,147 45% 22,652
Laois 1,311 6% 2,268 11% 7,896 37% 9,696 46% 21,171
Leitrim 5,697 20% 14,363 52% 2,006 7% 5,781 21% 27,847
Limerick 1,242 16% 1,776 22% 2,275 29% 2,663 33% 7,956
Longford 336 3% 1,479 11% 5,229 40% 6,181 46% 13,225
Louth 3,685 18% 5,004 25% 4,715 24% 6,659 33% 20,063
Mayo 43,562 39% 20,709 19% 18,552 17% 27,479 25% 110,302
Meath 4,361 8% 9,178 17% 16,798 31% 24,477 44% 54,814
Monaghan 1,010 6% 2,299 13% 5,965 34% 8,273 47% 17,547
Offaly 1,552 5% 4,833 14% 11,300 34% 15,918 47% 33,603
Roscommon 1,940 3% 7,307 12% 24,452 41% 26,061 44% 59,760
Sligo 8,943 28% 7,020 21% 6,192 19% 10,665 32% 32,820
Tipperary 5,039 10% 14,961 31% 15,920 33% 12,750 26% 48,670
Waterford 9,635 52% 3,001 16% 2,252 12% 3,780 20% 18,668
Westmeath 1,840 6% 4,432 15% 8,734 30% 14,082 49% 29,088
Wexford 4,066 6% 11,409 16% 19,786 28% 35,414 50% 70,675
Wicklow 23,846 29% 25,802 31% 10,305 12% 23,557 28% 83,510
TOTAL 245,499 21% 246,358 21% 287,799 24% 414,749 36% 1,194,405
All Sheep by Breed Type Category
County
Mountain Mountain Cross Lowland Lowland Cross Total of all sheep
by county
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
No. % of County
Carlow 11,803 10% 17,774 15% 34,194 30% 51,521 45% 115,292
Cavan 9,521 12% 17,462 23% 20,635 27% 29,221 38% 76,839
Clare 1,457 6% 2,177 8% 11,264 43% 11,171 43% 26,069
Cork 57,015 31% 54,541 29% 31,163 17% 42,984 23% 185,703
Donegal 166,912 34% 109,707 22% 78,070 16% 140,474 28% 495,163
Dublin 6,212 24% 3,356 13% 4,048 16% 11,762 47% 25,378
Galway 96,688 22% 34,350 8% 144,925 33% 158,730 37% 434,693
Kerry 177,937 54% 91,696 29% 17,792 6% 33,947 11% 321,372
Kildare 21,370 18% 15,306 13% 31,309 27% 49,893 42% 117,878
Kilkenny 3,343 5% 7,515 10% 28,413 39% 33,409 46% 72,680
Laois 2,800 5% 5,788 10% 22,381 39% 26,579 46% 57,548
Leitrim 26,442 24% 53,917 50% 7,786 7% 20,443 19% 108,588
Limerick 5,628 24% 3,861 17% 7,131 31% 6,436 28% 23,056
Longford 2,077 5% 3,338 8% 17,534 42% 18,608 45% 41,557
Louth 11,481 20% 12,506 21% 13,246 23% 21,071 36% 58,304
Mayo 205,383 49% 67,719 16% 60,506 14% 89,985 21% 423,593
Meath 9,122 5% 16,770 10% 62,194 37% 80,685 48% 168,771
Monaghan 1,723 4% 3,142 6% 18,353 38% 25,627 52% 48,845
Offaly 3,264 4% 7,759 9% 33,338 39% 40,440 48% 84,801
Roscommon 6,426 3% 15,085 8% 77,355 40% 92,588 49% 191,454
Sligo 42,942 33% 27,665 21% 24,435 18% 37,803 28% 132,845
Tipperary 25,730 20% 26,333 20% 42,453 32% 37,204 28% 131,720
Waterford 34,917 52% 11,418 17% 7,793 11% 13,822 20% 67,950
Westmeath 3,648 4% 10,180 11% 32,315 36% 44,031 49% 90,174
Wexford 9,467 6% 21,753 13% 51,503 31% 85,724 50% 168,447
Wicklow 86,511 34% 68,624 28% 31,177 13% 62,993 25% 249,305
TOTAL 1,029,819 26% 709,742 18% 911,313 23% 1,267,151 33% 3,918,025
Distribution of all Mountain / Mountain Cross Breeds by County
The distribution of all mountain breeds, i.e. mountain and mountain cross, by county is
set out below. The data shows that Donegal, Mayo and Kerry each account for approx
16% of all mountain sheep with the combined total for the three counties accounting for
almost half (47%) of all mountain sheep in the country.
Distribution of all Lowland / Lowland Cross Breeds by County
The distribution of all lowland breeds, i.e. lowland and lowland cross, by county is set
out below. The data shows that Galway has the highest number of lowland sheep and
accounts for 14% of all lowland sheep followed by Donegal which has 10% and
Roscommon 8%.
Number of Flocks within certain Flock Sizes
The distribution of the national flocks in terms of flock sizes has remained relatively
stable over the last number of years as can be seen from the following two tables.
Number of Flocks within certain Flock Sizes
Flock Size
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1 – 50 15,547 15,417 15,190 14,391 14,976 14,436 14,392 14,393 14,676 14,579 14,591 15,102
51 – 100 8,966 8,479 8,071 7,584 7,722 7,872 8,192 8,232 8,518 8,667 8,892 8,891
101 – 150 4,857 4,442 4,189 3,918 3,863 3,913 4,397 4,466 4,354 4,436 4,571 4,740
151 – 200 2,737 2,500 2,354 2,156 2,037 2,074 2,350 2,353 2,306 2,347 2,471 2,552
201 – 300 2,659 2,347 2,092 1,959 1,959 2,184 2,412 2,388 2,339 2,428 2,507 2,589
301 – 400 1,121 989 842 831 792 822 941 1,067 999 984 982 1,109
401 – 500 547 454 402 386 379 381 457 480 466 447 526 549
>500 775 649 537 531 504 494 625 669 646 661 714 781
Total Flocks
37,209 35,277 33,677 31,756 32,232 32,176 33,766 34,048 34,304 34,549 35,254 36,313
% of Flocks within certain Flock Sizes
Flock Size
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
1 – 50 41.8% 43.7% 45.1% 45.3% 46.5% 44.9% 42.6% 42.3% 42.8% 42.2% 41.4% 41.6%
51 – 100 24.1% 24.0% 24.0% 23.9% 24.0% 24.5% 24.3% 24.2% 24.8% 25.1% 25.2% 24.5%
101 – 150 13.1% 12.6% 12.4% 12.3% 12.0% 12.2% 13.0% 13.1% 12.7% 12.8% 13.0% 13.1%
151 – 200 7.4% 7.1% 7.0% 6.8% 6.3% 6.4% 7.0% 6.9% 6.7% 6.8% 7.0% 7.0%
201 – 300 7.1% 6.7% 6.2% 6.2% 6.1% 6.8% 7.1% 7.0% 6.8% 7.0% 7.1% 7.1%
301 – 400 3.0% 2.8% 2.5% 2.6% 2.5% 2.6% 2.8% 3.1% 2.9% 2.8% 2.8% 3.1%
401 – 500 1.5% 1.3% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2% 1.4% 1.4% 1.4% 1.3% 1.5% 1.5%
>500 2.1% 1.8% 1.6% 1.7% 1.6% 1.5% 1.9% 2.0% 1.9% 1.9% 2.0% 2.2%
Goats
Goat census returns were received from 692 registered goat keepers of which 549
keepers declared that they had goats in December 2016. The total number of goats
declared was 7,874 goats which is a decrease of 1,988 goats or 20% on the December
2015 figure of 9,862.
As in previous years the vast majority of domestic goats are kept in very small numbers
on a non commercial basis, with only 24 herds in the country containing over 50 goats.
The total number of goats held in those 24 herds accounts for 61% of the total goat
population. The average number of goats per herd in December 2016 was 11, which is
the same as in December 2014 and December 2015.
59% of total goat numbers were recorded across 6 counties. The greatest concentration
was in Galway with 14% of the total followed by Tipperary 12%, Cork 10%, Westmeath
9%, Longford 7% and Clare 7%.
Number of Goats and Number of Goat Herds by Size of Herd
Goat Herds with 2013 2014 2015 2016
1 - 5 goats 716 78% 760 77% 710 76% 357 65%
6 - 10 goats 101 11% 102 10% 115 12% 98 18%
11 - 50 goats 74 8% 86 9% 80 9% 70 13%
51 - 100 goats 14 2% 16 2% 14 1% 10 2%
101 - 200 goats 4 0% 7 1% 3 0% 5 1%
201 - 300 goats 7 1% 10 1% 7 1% 3 1%
> 300 goats 4 0% 5 1% 6 1% 6 1%
Total 920 100% 986 100% 935 100% 549 100%
Total Goats in
herds with
2013 2014 2015 2016
1 - 5 goats 1,599 19% 1,745 16% 1,637 17% 909 12%
6 - 10 goats 744 9% 762 7% 865 9% 722 9%
11 - 50 goats 1,426 17% 1,730 16% 1,695 17% 1,469 19%
51 - 100 goats 1,019 12% 1,208 11% 1,058 11% 667 8%
101 - 200 goats 566 7% 941 9% 442 4% 670 9%
201 - 300 goats 1,812 21% 2,632 24% 1,847 19% 777 10%
> 300 goats 1,405 16% 1,778 16% 2,318 24% 2,660 34%
Total 8,571 100% 10,796 100% 9,862 100% 7,874 100%
Total Number of Goats and Number of Goat Herds by County 2016
County Number of
Herds % of Total
Herds Number of
Goats % of Total
Goats
Carlow 5 1% 58 1%
Cavan 10 2% 53 1%
Clare 22 4% 516 7%
Cork 77 14% 759 10%
Donegal 38 7% 348 4%
Dublin 6 1% 170 2%
Galway 45 8% 1124 14%
Kerry 34 6% 249 3%
Kildare 17 3% 172 2%
Kilkenny 16 3% 189 2%
Laois 11 2% 86 1%
Leitrim 16 3% 59 1%
Limerick 9 2% 119 2%
Longford 13 2% 552 7%
Louth 8 1% 44 1%
Mayo 44 8% 220 3%
Meath 20 4% 346 4%
Monaghan 7 1% 92 1%
Offaly 6 1% 17 0%
Roscommon 20 4% 203 3%
Sligo 25 5% 233 3%
Tipperary 30 5% 935 12%
Waterford 16 3% 135 2%
Westmeath 13 2% 741 9%
Wexford 27 5% 357 5%
Wicklow 14 3% 97 1%
Total 549 100% 7,874 100%