Calf birth registrations to-date in 2025 are running at 1.032m head, the latest data published by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) shows. This equates to a reduction of 46,378 head on the corresponding period in 2024. The 4.5% drop in births is in contrast with trends seen in recent years and is being driven by fewer dairy births, as opposed to reduced suckler births.
Calf birth registrations to-date in 2025 are running at 1.032m head, the latest data published by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) shows. This equates to a reduction of 46,378 head on the corresponding period in 2024.
The 4.5% drop in births is in contrast with trends seen in recent years and is being driven by fewer dairy births, as opposed to reduced suckler births.
Dairy births are running at 863,547 head, a reduction of over 38,000 head, or 4%, on 2024 levels. There are a number of factors contributing to the lower births. The latest animal identification and movement (AIMS) data released last week by the Department of Agriculture shows just over 35,000 fewer dairy cows (1.48m head) on farms on 1 February 2025 compared to 1 February 2024.
Reports also indicate that inclement weather and challenging grazing conditions during the first half of the breeding season in 2024 had a negative impact on conception rates, pushing mean calving dates back on some farms.
Lower confidence on dairy farms, linked to policy pressure and higher costs, is also resulting in over 29,000 fewer replacement heifers on farms aged from 18 to 30 months of age.
Suckler births are running at just 122,872 head, which equates to a reduction of 8,236 head, or a 6% fall. Suckler cow numbers remain under significant pressure, with the latest AIMS data showing suckler cow numbers standing at 741,373 on 1 February. This represents a reduction of 48,689 head, or 6%, on 12 months previous.
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