Dairy farmers are preparing for an explosion in calf births over the next eight to 10 weeks.

Last year, total calf births reached 627,143hd in February, with a further 502,418 born in March.

Around 75% or over 800,000 of these calves were registered from the dairy herd.

Figure 1 shows the intensity of calving on dairy farms since 2010. Expansion in the dairy herd has concentrated on calving in a very tight window from the end of January to the end of March.

Dairy birth registrations have increased by close to 100,000 (+34%) head in Cork since 2010 and over 50,000 head (+46%) in Tipperary. Limerick dairy calves increased by 25,000 head (+28%), with 30,000 head (+52%) more in Kilkenny and 25,000 head (+47%) in Waterford.

This is based on 2017 figures, with the Department of Agriculture yet to collate 2018 figures.

More calves will increase labour requirements on farm but other sectors of the industry are also gearing up to handle a surge in calves coming on to the market.

Marts in dairy strongholds are putting measures in place to deal with higher numbers.

Bandon Mart in Co Cork has seen the greatest spike in numbers, with peak sales in 2018 featuring more than 2,000 calves per day. The mart is planning to hold two weekly calf sales from 4 February to better manage throughput.