The number of suckler beef registrations has dropped below 900,000 for the first time in 10 years, Sean Coughlan of the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) has said.

The number of first-calvers in 2018 was 7.5% below 2017, he said.

This indicates a lack of confidence in the sector and farmers questioning their future in sucklers.

Speaking at an open livestock meeting hosted by south Tipperary IFA on Monday night, Coughlan said that the 2018 culling rate has remained level with 2017, despite 2017 levels being high compared to other years.

The exodus from suckling looks set to continue, with Irish Farmers Journal analysis highlighting that winter finishers are losing between €200 to €250/head at current beef prices and rising costs inside the farm gate.

Also speaking at the meeting was IFA livestock chair Angus Woods. He said: “If you look at other European countries without a sizeable suckler herd, they really struggle to market and sell their beef.”