UK dairy farmers are using sexed seman and beef bulls more often, according to the latest British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) registration figures. The third quarter of 2019 shows that there are more diary females being born, but fewer dairy males – indicating more sexed semen being used on cows. Dairy producers are also increasingly choosing to put cows to beef sires, shown through the 3% rise (10,300 head) in beef animals on the year. This has lead Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to predict that there could be an uplift in beef production in early 2021 as these male calves come to market.

Overall calf registrations were flat, with a total of 608,800 births registered. This is only 50 more than last year.

Favourable weather

Felicity Rusk of AHDB said: “Cows were likely to have been in good condition when they were served. The elevated plane of feeding and the mild winter would have supported fertility. Plentiful grass growth throughout spring and summer would have also kept condition throughout the gestation period.

“Interestingly, when breaking it down by month, September actually recorded a 2% increase compared to last year. This may be a sign of a shift in dairy calving systems. However, a 2% decline in calvings in July compensated for this.”