Rearing male dairy calves to bulls could boost exports by €120m

REARING the 320,000 male dairy calves produced annually into bulls could add €120 million to the value of annual Irish agricultural exports, attendees heard at the joint Teagasc and Dawn Meats conference.

The male dairy calves are presently exported live as calves. A bull beef system would be of far greater benefit to the economy, according to experts at the “Dairy Calf To Beef Conference” at the Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre, Co Wexford.

At present, about 160,000 head, or half the male calf herd, are exported before maturing.