The number of calves born in Ireland this year has decreased by over 34,500 head compared to the same period last year, according to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). The total number of calves registered this year is nearly 2 million. The number of dairy calves born this year is slightly above last year's numbers, while the number of suckler-bred calves has fallen. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has also reported a decrease in the number of suckler and dairy cows in the country compared to last year.