Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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741. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle slaughtered from factory controlled feedlots or related proxy therefore, by quarter, in each of the years 2024 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66255/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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As part of the bovine TB eradication programme, beef finishing herds, if they meet the necessary criteria, are allowed to avail of a special status, termed 'Controlled Finishing Unit' (CFU). When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a CFU under the bovine TB eradication programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. The ownership or control of such herds, or the cattle within these herds, is a private matter and my Department's role with these herds in the TB eradication programme is concerned with the epidemiological status of these herds. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements.

Restricted CFUs are TB tested at least once a year. This CFU status arrangement allows the delivery of an effective level of disease risk management while controlling the risk of further disease spread in compliance with animal health legislation, and enabling business continuity in this particular type of enterprise through the inward movement of cattle. Cattle from CFU herds restricted under the TB Eradication programme are only permitted to move to a EU approved slaughter plant.

My Department publishes data on a monthly basis which shows the number of cattle slaughtered from Controlled Finishing Units at approved beef exporting plants and this information can be found at gov.ie - Cattle (AIM) (www.gov.ie)

The attached table shows the kill numbers at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units by quarter in the years 2024 and to the end of October 2025.

Kill numbers at EU approved slaughter plants originating in Controlled Finishing Units