Despite warnings to the contrary, 2016 autumn calvings in the dairy sector are on par with last year.

Figures obtained by the Irish Farmers Journal from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) show that there has been almost no change in the volume of calves calved between August and October this year when compared with the same period last year.

However, calvings are still down on the years prior to 2015.

Between August and October this year, 60,938 calves were born to the dairy herd. This is up marginally from 60,824 in 2015.

Prior to this year, autumn calvings in the dairy herd had been on the steady decline. Calvings between August and September fell from 66,903 in 2012, to 65,400 in 2013 and to 63,987 in 2014.

Liquid milk farmer from east Wicklow and FMP supplier Stephen Arthur said he is not surprised by the steadying in autumn-calving figures.

“I think that anyone who is left in autumn calving and winter milk is committed to it.

‘‘We saw a pretty big drop off in farmers exiting in recent years, so there was going to be a levelling off on numbers.

‘‘We have 1,800 or 1,900 winter or liquid farmers and I imagine it will stay around that for the time being,” Arthur said.

Arthur, who is in the middle of autumn calving, said he expects the next generation of dairy farmers to lose interest in winter milk.

“It’s a generational thing. You look on Twitter there and you see young dairy farmers talking about grass. They’re not talking about winter milk and that’s to be expected. I imagine you will see more of the next generation leave and head for spring milk,” Arthur added.