The number of suckler calves born in 2016 has seen a small reduction on 2015 levels. From January until August of this year, the number of suckler-bred male calves totalled 653,714 head. This sees a slight drop of 1,528 head on 2015 levels.

Heifer calves registered in 2016 totalled 612,250 head, down 2,240 calves on 2015. The total suckler calf births registered in 2016 stood at 1,265,964 head at the end of July, compared with 1,269,732 in 2015.

Over the first quarter of 2016, suckler calf registrations were 16,000 head higher than 2015 levels at a combined 651,995 for both male and female animals. However, during the next four months, 2016 calf births have trailed 2015 levels by 20,000 head.

During the same January to July period in 2016, calf births with a dairy bred sire totalled 368,504 head for male calves, up 8,000 on 2015.

Dairy-bred heifer calves stood at 345,642 head in 2016, an increase of 1,500 on last year.