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Ireland
Livestock surveys
The description of the surveys for the major livestock items (cattle, sheep and pigs) describes how the surveys with a reference date of June 2001 and December 2000 were carried out.
Surveys on the number of pigs
In Ireland two surveys on the number of pigs are carried out per year, namely in June and December. All the surveys are separate pig censuses.
All the surveys are full surveys (with only very small units excluded).
Pig production in Ireland is very specialised. In 1997 400 pig herds accounted for over 90% of pig numbers. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) conducts a separate survey of the largest pig producers (based on information supplied by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development and Teagasc (government farm agency)) in June and December. This survey accounts for almost 100% of pig numbers.
The general farm surveys in June and December also incorporate summary questions on pig numbers. This gives one information on holdings with small numbers of pigs. In the Census of Agriculture 2000, all farms were sent the general census form and specialised pig producers were sent an additional pig questionnaire with a more detailed category breakdown, for example five fattening weight categories instead of two.
97 % of the total pig population, about 550 farms, are recorded by the survey which is 35 % of all holdings with pigs. However all specialised pig farms are included in the surveys.
Data are obtained by written inquiries and by telephone. The average response rate is 95 %. Non-response is small. To arrive at an estimate for the total pig population a matched sample approach is followed. The trends within the matched sample are applied to the estimates of the previous year. The Central Statistics Office is responsible for carrying out the surveys. A combination of examining the change in a matched sample of holdings plus an examination of the aggregated actual returns with imputation for non-response is used.
Ireland does not plan to use administrative data instead of statistical surveys within the next 5 years.
Surveys on the number of cattle
In Ireland two surveys on the number of cattle are carried out per year, namely in June and December. All the surveys are integrated livestock surveys.
All the surveys are sample surveys. The last full survey was in June 2000 (1991 previously). The following sampling method is used: Stratification based on area farmed and total cattle is used. A matched sample approach is also used and resampling is used to ensure geographical representation.
24 % of the total cattle population is recorded by the sample survey (in June 1999). In June 1999 about 29.000 holdings were recorded which is 23 % of all holdings breeding cattle.
The surveys are carried out in selected regions. Both the June and December surveys collect data on a regional basis. But only results of the June survey are published on a regional basis. Data is collected at a county level. This data is then grouped into respective regional levels (NUTS 3 level).
The method that is used for estimating the cattle population which is not recorded by the sample surveys is that a matched sample approach is followed which compares back to the last Census of Agriculture. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) may move to direct grossing in post-Census 2000.
Data are obtained by written inquiries. The average response rate is about 95 %. Important livestock holdings are followed up by telephone. If despite extensive follow up non-response still pertains then a matched sample approach is followed. The Central Statistics Office is responsible for carrying out the surveys.
Ireland does not plan to use administrative data instead of statistical surveys within the next 5 years.
Surveys on the number of sheep and goats
In Ireland two surveys on the number of sheep and goats are carried out per year, namely in June and December. Sheep and goats population are recorded separately. All the surveys are integrated livestock surveys.
All the surveys are sample surveys. The last full survey was carried out in June 2000 (1991 previously). The following sampling method is used: Stratification based on area farmed and total sheep is used. A matched sample approach is also used and resampling is used to ensure geographical representation.
In June 1999 25 % of sheep population as well as 25 % of goat population were recorded. In June 1999 about 10.000 (23 %) holdings breeding sheep and 800 (23 %) holdings breeding goats were recorded.
The surveys are carried out in selected regions. Both the June and December surveys collect data on a regional basis. But only the June survey is published on a regional basis. Data is collected at a county level. This data is then grouped into respective regional levels (NUTS 3 level).
The method that is used for estimating the sheep an goat population which is not recorded by the sample surveys is that a matched sample approach is followed which compares back to the last Census of Agriculture.
Data are obtained by written inquiries. The response rate is 75 % (according to the actual survey). Important livestock holdings are followed up by telephone. If despite extensive follow up non-response still pertains then a matched sample approach is followed. The Central Statistics Office is responsible for carrying out the surveys.
Ireland does not plan to use administrative data instead of statistical surveys within the next 5 years.
Statistics on slaughterings
The description of the slaughtering statistics describes how this work is currently done.
Monthly slaughtering data are available in Ireland on the number and slaughterweight for pigs overall, calves, heifers, cows, bulls, bullocks, sheep overall and lambs.
Availability of monthly data on slaughterings
Weight
Slaughtering data in Ireland is sourced from two areas. Slaughterings in export-licensed factories are collected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. This data is then submitted to CSO, typically 4 weeks after the relevant month. Slaughterings in other premises are under the supervision of local authorities in Ireland. CSO undertakes a monthly survey of all local authorities in Ireland to receive this data. All of this data is typically available to CSO by 4 weeks after the relevant month. Please see below table 1 which, using 1999 data, shows the allocation of the slaughterings for both number and weight in percentage terms between the different means of slaughter processing.
Table 1
Data on external trade in live animals
Due to the discontinuity in the trade statistics of live animals since the introduction of the single market in 1993, CSO relies on data supplied by the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development as well as official trade statistics.
The Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development conducts what is known as a "portal survey". This survey details by category of cattle, on a weekly basis, the number of cattle exported by destination and shipping port. There are no reporting thresholds. The Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development supplies this information to CSO, typically 2 weeks after the reference period. The following categories of cattle are detailed in this survey: fat bull, fat bullock, fat heifer, fat cow, store bull, store bullock, store cow, weanling bull, weanling heifer, calf. Official trade statistics only collect information on cattle in two categories - Purebred cattle for breeding and Cattle other than purebred breeding animals.
Estimates for the live trade in sheep and pigs are complicated by cross-border trade between Ireland and Northern Ireland which is not picked up the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development portal survey. Therefore estimates of total live trade in sheep and pigs (both import and export) are calculated by experts in the field from the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development and Bord Bia (the Irish food marketing agency). These estimates are made every 6 months.
Production forecasts (gross indigenous production)
The description of the GIP forecasting describes how this work is currently done.
The primary source for estimating production forecasts for the animals listed above is the June and December livestock surveys which are carried out by CSO, as well as slaughterings and trade data. These surveys provide an estimate of the total number of animals within the country and hence the total availability for supply for slaughter and live trade. These numbers are then discussed with the relevant experts from the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and Bord Bia (the Irish food marketing agency). Based on their market knowledge, estimates are made for slaughterings, live imports and live exports. Regarding the treatment of foreign trade in live animals, live imports are a negative figure and live exports are a positive figure in the calculation of gross indigenous production.
Poultry statistics
Monthly slaughtering data for broilers and turkeys is compiled by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Data for other poultry types is available but for some poultry types cannot be made public for confidentiality reasons. This applies in particular to duck data given the concentration of duck producers in Ireland. CSO are currently liasing with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development regarding the provision of monthly broiler and turkey slaughtering data to CSO.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development states that the carcass weight for a broiler is assumed to be 4.5 pounds and 12 pounds for a turkey (1 pound = 0.4536 kg).
CSO has a model which, using the number (or placements) of ordinary fowl and other fowl placed in the marketplace, estimates the number of ordinary fowl and other fowl in the country at survey time. The source of the placement information is the Department of Agriculture, Food & Rural Development. The data is sent to the CSO on a monthly basis, normally 2-3 months after the reference month. The data is categorised into: commercial layers, commercial broilers and commercial turkeys.