10% of spring-calving cows should calve after April 1

Nationally, 389,000 cows calved between April and June in 2019 and 2020

Teagasc is recommending that a compact calving pattern be maintained in spring calving for dairy herds. File Picture. 

Nationally, an average of 389,000 cows, or just over one-quarter of spring-calving dairy cows, calved between April and June in 2019 and 2020, with almost as many of the cows calving in May and June as in April.

This is improving over time, but the target is that only 10% of spring-calving cows should calve after April 1.