Cattle and sheep sectors worth €5.7bn to economy, study shows

Cattle and sheep are hugely important to Ireland’s recovery plans, supporting 100,000 farmers and over 50,000 jobs in the wider economy, according to a UCD study.

Commissioned by the IFA, the study estimates cattle and sheep farmgate output at €2.3bn annually, creating total output of €5.7bn.

UCD professor of agriculture and food economics, Alan Renwick, said the report shows how deeply embedded the two sectors are in the economy.