In UK, Northern Ireland, increase in beef-sired calf births in 2022

There was an increase in beef-sired calf births registered in Northern Ireland during 2022, according to the Livestock and Meat Commissions’ (LMC’s) recent analysis of Animal and Public Health Information System (APHIS) information. This increase, the LMC said, represents a reverse in the trend of declining beef calf births in the Northern Irish beef sector throughout the second half of the last decade. Last year, 377,654 beef-sired calf births were registered on Northern Ireland farms, which is 6,999 more than 2021. When compared to 2012, ten years ago, it is a 14.2% increase. What is consistent between the years 2012 and 2022 however, is the most popular breed when it comes to sires. In both years, the same six breeds accounted for over 90% of beef-sired calves. These are: Aberdeen Angus, Belgian Blue, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin and Simmental. The most popular breed for beef siring in 2022 was Aberdeen Angus, which increased by 3% on 2021 levels, followed by Limousin and ...