This figure last month was 6% higher than in November 2016, according to figures published by the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC).

There were 704,049 beef-sired cattle under 30 months old on NI farms in November 2016. The increase in suckler and dairy cow numbers, and subsequent calf registrations in recent years, has influenced the number of beef cattle on farms.

Most recent figures from the June agricultural census show that the NI dairy herd is at a record high of 317,000 head and the suckler herd grew by 4% last year to 269,700 cows.

The LMC states that the biggest contributor to the trend, however is the increase in beef-sired calves coming from the dairy herd. There has been a 22% increase in the number of beef-sired calves from the dairy herd to date in 2016, with 108,676 registered this year so far. This represents 40% of calf registrations from the dairy herd.

The number of beef-sired calves under six months is slightly lower than last year’s levels, however, beef-bred cattle on NI farms across older age groups are up between 5% to 9%, pointing to an increase in cattle coming to slaughter next year.

Male dairy cattle

Another factor leading to increased supplies of cattle for factories next year is the rise in the number of male dairy-sired calves in older age groups on farms, with those aged between 18-24 months up 13% on last year’s levels to 13,930 head.

However, the number of dairy-sired male calves under six months and under 12 months has reduced by 16% and 17% respectively, due to an increase in live exports and a reduction in dairy-sired calf registrations.

The LMC points out that the increase in cattle coming forward to factories next year could be partially offset by the reduction in live exports from the Republic of Ireland, due to the sterling remaining relatively weak against the euro. In November, only 353 cattle from the Republic of Ireland were killed in NI, compared with 2,443 cattle in November 2015.

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