In the last quarter of the year, Ireland experienced a 6.1% decrease in cattle slaughter compared to the previous year, continuing a trend from the beginning of the year. Q1 saw a total of 434,100 head of cattle slaughtered, marking a 13.6% decrease from Q1 2020. This decrease is attributed to higher slaughter numbers in the autumn of the previous year, which depleted the current cattle supply. As a result, there has been a 3% decrease in the number of cattle expected to be slaughtered in 2021, leading to an increase in prices and a tighter beef market. Additionally, Q1 exports of Irish beef saw a 22% decrease, with a 38% decrease in exports to the UK, among other European countries.