12.5% drop in dairy heifer calf numbers this year

The IFA has warned the number of dairy replacement heifers born this year will not sustain the Irish dairy herd at its current levels

2027 is projected to have fewer replacement heifers for the national dairy herd.

Dairy female calf registrations have fallen by 12.5% compared to last year.

Numbers are down by more than 45,000 for dairy heifer calves compared to this time last year, reports  the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF). This reduction is expected to result in fewer replacement heifers available in 2027.