The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) maintains cattle traceability on a central database called the Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) database. The AIM system records all births, movements and disposals in accordance with EU requirements and therefore traces all bovines from birth to slaughter.
DAFM produces an annual AIM Bovine Statistics Report containing comprehensive data on the national bovine herd.

This table contains data taken from the AIM stats report from 2011-2021 on: calf births categorised as beef and dairy. They are classified as such depending on whether the sire breed type is a Beef or Dairy Breed. Calf births broken down by the breed of the sire. It contains data on the top 6 breeds only as these account for approx 90% of all births. Slaughter in DAFM slaughter plants of male beef animals. Age at slaughter in DAFM slaughter plants of female beef animals. Whether bovine animals were slaughtered at DAFM slaughter plants or local authority abattoirs, how many were on farm deaths, how many still born deaths and how many bovines were exported. Categorising bovine herds into those with less than 25 animals, 25-49, 50-74, 75-99, 100-149 and 150+