Farmers pay for buyers to take cross calves

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has commented on reports that some farmers have paid up to €10 per head for buyers to take Holstein-Jersey cross calves from them.

Mr Coveney said it was neither appropriate nor possible for him to intervene directly on matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle.

Replying in the D•il to a question from Michael Healy-Rae, he said there are relatively few of these calves in the country, as cross-breeding is rela -tively limited and operated in approximately only 5% of dairy herds. “With at least 50% of the progeny being female, this leaves a limited number of male progeny to be sold at marts. I am aware that the issue of cross-breeding in dairy herds has been growing in popularity and is proven to provide cows with high economic value. The downside of this is that the male calves have a low market value due to their unsuitability for beef production.”