More support needed to halt sheep sector decline

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.
The report found that breeding sheep has dropped by 71,700 head (2.7%), and ‘other sheep (non-breeding) have also fallen by 5,500 (0.2%).
Rams are the only numbers that have increased within sheep, with an increase of 2.9% to a total of 85,200 head between June 2024 and June 2025.
Discussing the sheep sector decline, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said the ball is firmly in Minister of Agriculture, Martin Heydon’s court.
He said the support package the Minister will provide in next week’s Budget for sheep farmers will be a clear indication of his and the Government’s commitment to sheep production in the country.
Mr Gallagher said that to date this year, throughput in sheep processing plants is back over 350,000 head, following a drop of over 360,000 last year. Over the past two years, that’s a reduction of 700,000 sheep processed.
He said the Minister must build on the €22m package provided for this year’s Sheep Welfare Scheme, which, combined with the CAP Sheep Improvement Scheme, allocated a payment of €25 per ewe to sheep farmers. This must be built on to bring payments to a minimum of €30per ewe, and €40 per ewe for hill farmers.
Mr Gallagher warned that if sheep numbers continue to drop like they have over the past two years, it will no longer be a competitive processing sector able to retain key customers like major retailers.
“The Minister and his Government colleagues must come forward with a long-term strategy for the sector, starting with firm funding commitments in the upcoming budget for targeted sheep supports for next year of a minimum of €30/ewe,” the IFA Sheep Chair concluded.