CATTLE slaughtering in Northern Ireland has declined by 21 per cent in the first five months of the year, according to figures issued by the Livestock and Meat Commission.
The figures showed that cattle throughput in Northern Ireland meat plants was 157,500 head, 21 per cent lower than in the corresponding period in 1995.
The report also showed that by June 1st almost 11,000 cattle had been taken out of the food chain as a result of the British government's programme to cull animals over 30 months old because of the BSE crisis.
The throughput of bullocks in factories declined by 27 per cent to 68,500 head, with a further 10,000 head removed from the food chain up to the end of May 1996.
Heifer supplies over the period were stated to be 51,000 head, a decrease of 21 per cent on last year.
As in the Republic, there has been a substantial decline in cow slaughtering figures. In the five-month period only 16,765 cows were slaughtered, a drop of 43 per cent on the same period last year, when the figure was 29,760.
The report showed that cattle exports from the Republic to Northern Ireland increased by 16 per cent during the same period to just over 3,500 head. Most of these were younger bullocks and heifers.
There was also a high demand for sheep from the Republic. Sheep exports to Northern Ireland rose 42 per cent above 1995 levels. In all, 48,500 sheep were exported across the Border.
Lamb supplies in the North during the January-May period were also slightly down on 1995 levels, at 194,000 head. Throughput at factories of cull ewes fell by 26 per cent to 17,200 head.