Ireland Has 41,274 Suckler Herds in 2026, Averaging 16 Cows Each
Data from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation shows 41,274 beef suckler herds in Ireland, averaging 16 cows. Galway and Mayo have the most farms.
The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has released its 2026 Beef Calving Statistics, giving a county-by-county picture of suckler farming in the Republic of Ireland. Suckler cows are beef-breed mothers that rear their own calves. The data also covers key herd performance indicators, such as calving interval and average age at first calving.
According to the ICBF, Ireland has 41,274 suckler herds in 2026, with an average of 16 cows per herd.
Where the farms are concentrated
Galway and Mayo have by far the most suckler farms. Galway has more than 5,100 and Mayo more than 4,500. Together they account for over 9,600 herds, which is more than 23% of the national total.
However, average herd size in both counties is below the national figure: 14 cows in Galway and 12 in Mayo. The largest average herds are in the south-east, with Kilkenny at 25 cows, Waterford at 24 and Wexford at 22.
Comparison with dairy
The scale of suckler and dairy farming differs considerably. The average Irish dairy herd is currently about 100 cows, compared with 16 for a suckler herd. Over the past decade the number of dairy herds has fallen while their average size has kept growing, and that trend is expected to continue. The number of suckler herds is also declining, but their average size is not expanding significantly.
Irish suckler farms run a range of systems: some focus on calving ease, others mainly on calf muscle and weanling production. Many small suckler farms are earning strong returns from weanling sales. As the supply of suckler-bred weanlings has fallen, demand and prices paid have remained high.
