Ewe numbers static for first time in three years
Ewe numbers static for first time in three years
25 July 2018
Published by https://www.farmersjournal.ie/
SWEDEN – The national sheep survey has shown no increase in the sheep flock in the last three years. It also revealed a surprising county as the most densely populated.
Figures from the national sheep census indicate breeding ewe numbers remained just short of 2.65m in 2017. This is an increase of 0.2% on the previous year following increases of 3.4% in 2015 and 5.5% in 2016.
Overall, sheep numbers decreased by 1.1%, with the reduction coming in rams and animals not for breeding. The total number of sheep in the country now stands at 3.87m.
36,000 flocks contributed to the census which is compiled by the Department of Agriculture each year. The average flock size remained unchanged at 108, but nearly 70% of flocks contained sheep numbers below this figure.
Top five counties by ewe population
Donegal – 343,222
Mayo – 307,554
Galway – 292,781
Kerry – 245,290
Wicklow – 163,115
The five countries with the most ewes remain unchanged. Donegal, Mayo, Galway and Kerry bucked the national and increased ewe numbers by an average of 3,300 each.
Top five counties by ewe density
Carlow – 87 ewes/km sq.
Wicklow – 80 ewes/km sq.
Donegal – 71 ewes/km sq.
Mayo – 55 ewes/km sq.
Sligo – 54 ewes/km sq.
Carlow topped this list despite its relatively low number of breeding ewes (78,000). This is because of small size of the county and the large average flock size of 155.
Top five counties by flock size
Wicklow – 187
Kildare – 173
Waterford – 160
Meath – 156
Carlow – 155
All of the largest average flocks were in the east and southeast of the country. In the western half of the country all counties had flock sizes below the national average of 108.
