Aberdeen Angus (AA) breeders are benefiting from the increase in dairy cows. AA became the second most popular sire breed last year, passing out Charolais and taking second place to Limousin. These figures are shown in the Department of Agriculture’s AIMS Bovine Statistics Report for 2016.
Aberdeen Angus (AA) breeders are benefiting from the increase in dairy cows.
AA became the second most popular sire breed last year, passing out Charolais and taking second place to Limousin. These figures are shown in the Department of Agriculture’s AIMS Bovine Statistics Report for 2016.
Limousin use changed little on the year before – that is on both suckler and dairy cows. However, use of Charolais on suckler cows fell significantly and their use on dairy cows also fell. Use of AA sires on dairy cows rose significantly – reflecting bigger dairy herds.
On suckler cows, Limousin has stretched its lead as sire over second place Charolais, with the two accounting for 70% together. After them come AA, Simmental and Hereford, which jumped ahead of Belgian Blue last year.
On dairy cows, use of Friesian sires rose in proportion to the rise in dairy cow numbers. Use of AA and Hereford rose sharply. Use of Limousin and Belgian Blue sires fell. Dairy farmers presumably chose to use the traditional beef breeds on their higher numbers of young dairy cows. Jersey sired 22,790 calves or 1.7% of the total which was an increase.
Main changes in sire use on dairy cows:757,249
calves born from Friesian sires, up by 38,137 on 2015.
246,138
calves from AA sires, up by 21,902.
163,630
calves from Hereford sires, up by 15,028.
Main changes in sire use on suckler cows:356,611
calves born from Limousin sires, up by 2,618 on 2015.
331,956
calves born from Charolais, down by 17,559.
100,634
calves born from Aberdeen Angus, up by 2,906.
The total number of calves born was 2,324,296. It was the fifth year with an increase in calf births.
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