The total number of registered calf births so far in 2016 stands at just under 188,000, 2.3% ahead of the same time last year.

The total number of beef births so far in 2016 is 49,622, a 10% fall on 2015 figures. The increase in registrations has come from the dairy herd, with 137,700 registered since the beginning of 2016, almost 8% ahead of 2015 figures.

The data on calf births comes from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), which uses the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Identification and Movement system to put the figures together.

Registrations for the week ending 5 February further reflect the slow start to calving in the suckler herd. Total calf births for that week were up by 7.5% and total dairy birth registrations up by 9%, while beef births fell by 1% on figures from 2015.

Calf birth registrations have been growing since the start of 2016 and have increased dramatically on a weekly basis since the end of January.

BVD test results continue to be received at ICBF and are being processed accordingly. There have been 187,818m results received since 1 January.

Since the beginning of the voluntary phase in 2012, 7.51m results have been received.