More support needed to halt sheep sector decline

The sheep sector continues to decline, with the IFA Sheep Chair calling for more support to farmers provided by the Government.

Sheep numbers continue to decline with a drop of 1.5% reported by the CSO.

Total sheep numbers have dropped by 1.5% the equivalent of 77,200 head, to a total of 5,098.500.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) have recorded a provisional decrease in sheep numbers in the last 12 months in their provisional Crop and Livestock Report for June 2025.