The latest Animal Identification and Movement data published by the Department of Agriculture makes for stark reading. The recent sharp reduction in the national suckler herd continues - with 46,543 fewer suckler cows on farms on 1 June compared to 12 months previous.

The number of cows on farms stands at just over 810,000 head, while the latest calf registration statistics published by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) shows 573,248 calves registered for the year to date, a reduction of 39,202 head on the 2023 levels.

Dairy cows

Expansion in the national dairy herd also appears to have stalled.

The number of dairy cows on farms on 1 June 2024 stood at 1,639m head equating to a reduction of 22,485 head on numbers recorded on 1 June 2023.

The more notable figure representing possible contraction in the dairy herd is the number of dairy heifers, at 837,971, running 47,680 head lower.

It is not surprising that numbers are running lower given the uncertainty facing dairy farmers with regards to the future of the nitrates derogation, emissions reduction targets for agriculture, more stringent regulations and lower returns.

Beef numbers

The most notable changes in terms of numbers of beef cattle on farms is a reduction of over 59,000 dairy males on farms in the 12 to 18 month age bracket. This is being driven by a combination of higher live exports in 2023 and a continued move to using more beef genetics, helped by sexed semen.

This trend is continuing with over 11,000 fewer dairy males on farms in the zero to six month age bracket while there was over 15,500 fewer dairy females in the same age bracket.

The increased use of beef genetics is also evident in the number of beef-sired males in the 12 to 18 month age bracket running 23,158 head higher, while the number of beef-sired females was recorded 14,126 head higher. It is clear with suckler births reducing that this is being driven primarily by higher beef births for the dairy herd.

There are contrasting figures on the number of cattle that will be available for slaughter in the coming months. The number of beef males aged 24 to 30 months was 7,633 head lower with dairy males 5,322 head lower. This is almost cancelled out by 10,314 extra beef-sired heifers in the same age bracket.