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%