The number of calves that were stillborn in 2016 rose by 2,993 to 43,131.
This continues the gradual increase seen over the past five years (Table 1), which has coincided with the dismantling of dairy quotas. The number remains low at 1.85% of overall live births in 2016.
Nonetheless, the upward trend will be a consideration in ongoing discussions between the Department of Agriculture, ICBF and Teagasc about a possible Calf Welfare and Quality Scheme.
Recent meetings have made progress and guidelines are now being drawn up.
It is likely to be 2018 before a scheme starts.
As exclusively revealed by the Irish Farmers Journal in January, it is likely to involve farmers being incentivised to use sexed semen – along with other scheme requirements – by a payment somewhere between €30 and €50 per calf.
Meanwhile, farmers also had more casualty cattle in 2016 with the number of on-farm cattle deaths rising by 31,642 to 232,524. The increase in on-farm cattle deaths followed seasonal patterns and remained within the range of recent years. They were higher in every month of 2016 but most significantly in March, April and May. In turn, that meant the sharpest increase in casualties was in cattle aged under six months.
Dairy cows
The number of dairy cows aged over four years that died on farms rose from 29,515 to 35,984, an increase of 6,469.
The figures reflect difficult spring conditions coinciding with lower than average fodder quality from the previous summer. The 2016 figures are not as high as the losses of 2013 when there was a late spring.