Ireland: Surging supply of cows continues at factories

Over 10,700 cows were processed at Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved factories last week, making it the highest weekly cow kill on record, with a weekly breakdown of figures available on the DAFM website as far back as January 2020. This is understood to be the highest weekly kill of cows since December 2004, almost 18 years ago. The total number of cattle processed at DAFM-approved factories to date this year is now almost 120,000 cattle ahead of the same time period last year (including veal). Last week’s supply of finished cattle was strong, with just under 39,900 cattle processed (excluding veal). Advertisement However, it is worth noting that the October Bank Holiday Monday and resulting four-day kill at processing sites the previous week contributed to this as lost time would have been made up. According to DAFM figures, the number of cows processed to date this year as of Sunday, October 13, now stands at 347,542 head. This year’s factory ...