The abolition of milk quotas in 2015 has had a profound impact on all sectors of livestock farming. Dairy cow numbers have skyrocketed as new entrants and existing dairy farmers ramp up production.
This increase in dairy production has been contributed to the large increase in beef-sired dairy calves.
Figures from 2013 to 2018 show that dairy-beef calf numbers rose by 300,000 head – from 354,740 to 660,302.
Around half of pedigree cows born in ireland since 2012 are AI bred. \ Ramona Farrelly
As calf numbers grew, so did pedigree births. Breeds such as Angus and Hereford saw registrations increase by around 50%.
As dairy boomed, declining national suckler herd numbers proved an issue for more terminal-focused breeds.
In 2018, nearly 40,000 fewer beef-sired calves were produced from beef dams.
Taking that a mature bull will service around 40 cows per year, the Irish market requires 1,000 fewer sires, to meet current demand.
As those numbers continue to fall, having surplus bulls available for sale will depress the overall market.
However, while having a surplus of bulls in the country will create difficulties for beef breeders in the short term, such turbulent periods are important for our overall herd.
Down periods such as this bring about the culling of poorer-quality stock – only by eliminating this bottom tier of cattle can the overall quality of the average animal increase.
A small number of breeds which can be used on both beef and dairy cattle saw the lowest amount of change.
Breeds in this category such as Salers and Aubrac also benefited from the introduction of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and its focus on promoting stronger maternal traits in the national beef herd. Both breeds rank very highly on replacement €uro-Star ratings and so have become popular for producing replacement females to fulfil the programme requirements.
The Limousin breed is the number one used beef breed across both beef and dairy
Breeds focused more so on terminal traits, such as the Charolais and Belgian Blue, are feeling the brunt of this scheme, with both witnessing substantial drop-offs in calf numbers. While the BDGP programme played its part in this drop, the reducing national suckler herd is also a big contributor.
Highest registrations
Angus is now Ireland’s most popular pedigree, with 2018 calf registrations standing at 9,440. While this is back nearly 300 on 2018 levels, it still stands at nearly 3,000 head higher than 2012’s figure. Overall, there were 394,690 Angus calves registered across beef and dairy born in 2018, with 45% of all beef calves from the dairy herd sired by an Angus bull.
The Salers breed has seen a steady increase in pedigree numbers over the past seven years. \ Ramona Farrelly
On the beef front, Limousin is out in front. For 2018, 39% of calves from beef dams were bred to a Limousin sire.
The breed also secured 10% of the dairy dam market, making it the number one beef breed across both sectors, siring nearly 408,000 calves.
One point to note is that the BDGP programme is set to finish in 2020. Any new agricultural scheme introduced by the Department of Agriculture has the capacity to change the breed makeup of the national beef herd dramatically.
Rare breeds
Looking at rare breed
registrations, the most
notable aspect is the increase in Dexter cattle in Ireland.
Dexter numbers have
trebled in the last seven years (hitting 760 in 2018), in line with the breed gaining traction for its meat quality. Many top-end restaurants are now seeking the breed’s beef, with ABP Nenagh offering a premium price.
AI v Stock bull
Looking over AI trends from the past number of years is useful when reflecting on our present day national herd. Some breeds utilise AI more than others, as some see it as a key selling point when going to auction.
Around half of pedigree cows born in Ireland since 2012 are AI-bred animals.
Looking at 2018 alone, 55% of pedigree registrations were from an AI sire.
Of these, 30% were sired by foreign bulls.
Extrapolating out the figures across all breeds, 38% of all breeds’ pedigree calf crop are sired by just 10 bulls.
Ireland has always been to the forefront of breeding pedigree cattle. Breeders and societies introducing new bloodlines are the heart and soul of the industry.
Due to Ireland’s progressive breeding and top health status, international buyers flock here to source genetics, be it through livestock or semen. These markets are essential to Irish breeders, particularly as pedigree calf numbers in our own national herd drop off.
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer continues to be a play a big part in reproduction for many breeds.
Chief among these is the Belgian Blue breed, which had the highest proportion of embyro transfer births, with 44% of its 2018 calf crop born as a result of embryo transfer.
The largest number of embryo calves come from the Limousin breed, with 327 calves, back from 413 in 2017.
Embryo transfer is a good resource for pedigree breeders, but runs the risk of being overused. Only elite dams with in-demand pedigrees should be flushed.
Doing otherwise has the potential to jeopardise the integrity of the ET letters after the pedigree name.
The abolition of milk quotas in 2015 has had a profound impact on all sectors of livestock farming. Dairy cow numbers have skyrocketed as new entrants and existing dairy farmers ramp up production.
This increase in dairy production has been contributed to the large increase in beef-sired dairy calves.
Figures from 2013 to 2018 show that dairy-beef calf numbers rose by 300,000 head – from 354,740 to 660,302.
Around half of pedigree cows born in ireland since 2012 are AI bred. \ Ramona Farrelly
As calf numbers grew, so did pedigree births. Breeds such as Angus and Hereford saw registrations increase by around 50%.
As dairy boomed, declining national suckler herd numbers proved an issue for more terminal-focused breeds.
In 2018, nearly 40,000 fewer beef-sired calves were produced from beef dams.
Taking that a mature bull will service around 40 cows per year, the Irish market requires 1,000 fewer sires, to meet current demand.
As those numbers continue to fall, having surplus bulls available for sale will depress the overall market.
However, while having a surplus of bulls in the country will create difficulties for beef breeders in the short term, such turbulent periods are important for our overall herd.
Down periods such as this bring about the culling of poorer-quality stock – only by eliminating this bottom tier of cattle can the overall quality of the average animal increase.
A small number of breeds which can be used on both beef and dairy cattle saw the lowest amount of change.
Breeds in this category such as Salers and Aubrac also benefited from the introduction of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) and its focus on promoting stronger maternal traits in the national beef herd. Both breeds rank very highly on replacement €uro-Star ratings and so have become popular for producing replacement females to fulfil the programme requirements.
The Limousin breed is the number one used beef breed across both beef and dairy
Breeds focused more so on terminal traits, such as the Charolais and Belgian Blue, are feeling the brunt of this scheme, with both witnessing substantial drop-offs in calf numbers. While the BDGP programme played its part in this drop, the reducing national suckler herd is also a big contributor.
Highest registrations
Angus is now Ireland’s most popular pedigree, with 2018 calf registrations standing at 9,440. While this is back nearly 300 on 2018 levels, it still stands at nearly 3,000 head higher than 2012’s figure. Overall, there were 394,690 Angus calves registered across beef and dairy born in 2018, with 45% of all beef calves from the dairy herd sired by an Angus bull.
The Salers breed has seen a steady increase in pedigree numbers over the past seven years. \ Ramona Farrelly
On the beef front, Limousin is out in front. For 2018, 39% of calves from beef dams were bred to a Limousin sire.
The breed also secured 10% of the dairy dam market, making it the number one beef breed across both sectors, siring nearly 408,000 calves.
One point to note is that the BDGP programme is set to finish in 2020. Any new agricultural scheme introduced by the Department of Agriculture has the capacity to change the breed makeup of the national beef herd dramatically.
Rare breeds
Looking at rare breed
registrations, the most
notable aspect is the increase in Dexter cattle in Ireland.
Dexter numbers have
trebled in the last seven years (hitting 760 in 2018), in line with the breed gaining traction for its meat quality. Many top-end restaurants are now seeking the breed’s beef, with ABP Nenagh offering a premium price.
AI v Stock bull
Looking over AI trends from the past number of years is useful when reflecting on our present day national herd. Some breeds utilise AI more than others, as some see it as a key selling point when going to auction.
Around half of pedigree cows born in Ireland since 2012 are AI-bred animals.
Looking at 2018 alone, 55% of pedigree registrations were from an AI sire.
Of these, 30% were sired by foreign bulls.
Extrapolating out the figures across all breeds, 38% of all breeds’ pedigree calf crop are sired by just 10 bulls.
Ireland has always been to the forefront of breeding pedigree cattle. Breeders and societies introducing new bloodlines are the heart and soul of the industry.
Due to Ireland’s progressive breeding and top health status, international buyers flock here to source genetics, be it through livestock or semen. These markets are essential to Irish breeders, particularly as pedigree calf numbers in our own national herd drop off.
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer continues to be a play a big part in reproduction for many breeds.
Chief among these is the Belgian Blue breed, which had the highest proportion of embyro transfer births, with 44% of its 2018 calf crop born as a result of embryo transfer.
The largest number of embryo calves come from the Limousin breed, with 327 calves, back from 413 in 2017.
Embryo transfer is a good resource for pedigree breeders, but runs the risk of being overused. Only elite dams with in-demand pedigrees should be flushed.
Doing otherwise has the potential to jeopardise the integrity of the ET letters after the pedigree name.
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