Number of calves born in Ireland down 34,500 head

The number of calves born in Ireland to date this year has fallen by over 34,500 head, according to the latest figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). As of Friday, June 28, ICBF figures show that a total of just under two million calves have been registered this year (1,999,543). That figure is over 34,500 head (34,666) of calves below the number registered in the same time period last year (2,034,209). The number of dairy calves born this year is slightly above last year, while the number of suckler-bred calves registered this year has fallen. According to ICBF figures, as of June 28, just over 523,500 (523,627) calves had been registered to suckler cows this year. This figure is down 35,248 head from the 558,885 calves registered to suckler cows in the same time period last year. Looking at dairy births from this year and ICBF figures show 1,475,906 calves were registered to dairy cows this year, which is an increase of just 582 head on the 1,475,324 calves ...