According to the most recent calf registration figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), 78% of the 1.68 million calves registered so far this year have come from dairy herds. This amounts to 1,325,143 calves, while the remaining 22% (363,361) were born on suckler farms. Despite the overall number of calf registrations remaining relatively steady compared to last year, there has been a notable increase in the number of calves born on dairy farms (up by 23,422 head) and a decrease in the number of suckler-bred calves (down by 22,748). This trend has been occurring over the past few years, with the number of calves born on dairy farms continuing to grow while the number from suckler herds declines. In 2022, approximately 2.4 million calves were registered in Ireland overall, with 815,000 coming from suckler farms and 1.59 million from the dairy herd. This year’s calf registration figures are expected to remain similar to last year, with a slight decline in suckler births and dairy-bred births likely to remain similar or increase slightly.
