According to the latest figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), dairy calf births for 2017 stand at 833,700, which represents a 2.4% increase on the same point in the 2016 figure of 819,786.

The calving season was much slower to start in 2017 when compared to last year, with fewer January calves. Calvings were back 40% year-on-year this year for the first four weeks of the year when compared with the same period last year. However, the pace of calvings has picked up dramatically since then.

For the period of 11 March to 24 March, the figure was 164,282, which is up from 141,797 for the same period in 2016.

Calf sales

Sales of calves in marts have been continuing with a stronger-than-expected demand.

Some 1,700 calves went on sale in Bandon on Monday of this week. Friesian bulls continued to perform well, with prices ranging from €90 to €150 per head.

Read more

Farmers receive €6.5m milk reduction scheme money

Skim powder heading for intervention