Victor Boyhan warns of steep drop in sheep and cattle slaughtering
Victor Boyhan raised concerns about Bord BIA and falling slaughter and processing figures in the Irish agri-food sector. He cited CSO data showing a 17.2% annual decrease in sheep slaughtered in 2025 and a 12% drop in cattle slaughtering, and urged monitoring and efforts to retain processing jobs on the island rather than relying on live exports.
CSO data on slaughtering
The speaker highlighted a CSO report published yesterday that recorded an annual decrease of 17.2% in sheep slaughtered in 2025 and a 12% drop in cattle slaughtering. He stressed that "figures don't lie" and presented these statistics as evidence of a significant trend affecting the sector.
Concerns for processing and jobs
He called for attention to the impact on slaughtering and processing employment, arguing it is important to keep as many jobs on the island of Ireland as possible. He expressed a clear preference for retaining processing work domestically rather than increasing live exports of cattle.
Support for Bord BIA
Victor Boyhan commended Bord BIA for its remit to promote agriculture, food and the drinks industry and noted its international reputation. He acknowledged that the organisation is expensive to run and is facing setbacks, but urged that common sense prevail and that the relationship with Bord BIA be maintained for the benefit of farmers, producers and the food chain.
Recent ministerial activity and policy discussion
He referenced the Minister of State being on a trade mission and the Minister for Agriculture taking part in recent discussions. He also noted a positive session on the Nitrates Directive the previous day, saying that it touched on the positive developments in agriculture that need to be sustained.
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Thank you, Craig Herlich. Well, Leader, I want to raise the issue of Bord BIA without touching on the sort of current controversies in Bord BIA, because I think they're well rehearsed and well documented both in these houses and in the media. Currently, our Minister, Minister of Estate Noel Grealish, is on a trade mission, maybe due back today or tomorrow, and I think that's important. And also the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Hayden, and we had a very good session yesterday in relation to Nitrates Directive, and we touched on all the positive things that are going on in agriculture. So, yesterday, the CSO published some figures, and figures don't lie, and it's always important that we look at the data when we're examining policy. And what the CSO told us yesterday was, in this published report, that statistically released, as I say, that there was an annual decrease of 17.2% in the number of sheep slaughtered in 2025, a drop in 12% in cattle slaughtering too. So, that's profound. That is an impact that's measured by the CSO, published today, yesterday, and clearly sets out an area that we have to have concerns. And I believe it's important that we can keep as many of our jobs in slaughtering and processing on the island of Ireland, as opposed to the live exports of cattle, and I have a strong view on that. But what I think is, this is an indication of the ongoing challenges in promoting Irish agri-food and the Irish agri-food sector. And I want to commend Board BF for its work. They are charged, that is their remit, that is their responsibility, is to promote agriculture, food and the drinks industry. And we have a reputation all over the world. It's an amazing organisation. Yes, it is an expensive organisation to run. Yes, it may have some setbacks currently. But I think we've got to get beyond that. It's in the interest of Irish farmers and producers, and ultimately suppliers, and the continuous food chain, that we have a good, professional, working relationship with Board BF. And I hope common sense will prevail in the coming days, that we can iron out the difficulties with Board BF. But I just want to say, and to flag here today, we have issues, we have concerns. The CSO has confirmed the drop in the processing and the slaughtering of animals, and that has to be of concern. And I would ask that we would continue to monitor that situation. Thank you. Thank you.
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