One-third of farmers have reduced stock numbers this year, a major Irish Farmers Journal survey has found.

The survey of almost 1,500 farmers found that 36% of beef farmers and 37% of sheep farmers have cut numbers.

However, just 24% of dairy farmers have reduced their herd size.

Of the beef farmers who reduced numbers, 41% said they culled up to 10% of their animals. A further 36% reduced cattle numbers by between 11% and 20%, with 23% reducing by more than 20%.

Just over one-fifth of sheep farmers who reduced their flock sizes cut numbers by less than 10%. Meanwhile, around two-thirds of flock owners who reduced numbers culled between 11% and 30% of their stock.

The level of overall stock reductions was proportionally far lower in the dairy sector than in drystock enterprises.

Of the dairy farmers who cut numbers, 60% culled less than 10% of the animals in their herds, 29% cut between 11% and 20%, while 11% reduced stock levels by more than 20%.

When asked to explain the reasons why they had decided to cut cattle numbers, beef farmers generally cited input costs, tight fodder supplies or the high purchase price of cattle.

“I couldn’t justify buying fertiliser for grazing ground,” one beef farmer said.

The increased cost of making silage this year was also cited by a number of drystock farmers.

The recent drought was also a factor. Some respondents said they culled cows because they feared they would not have the grass or fodder to feed through the autumn and winter.