Speaking following the publication of the latest ICBF dairy stock statistics, IFA Dairy Chair Martin McElearney has voiced his deep concern at the trends in replacement dairy stock numbers.
“Should dairy replacement breeding trends remain the same for 2025, we are looking at a significant collapse of the dairy herds in two years’ time,” he outlined.
ICBF statistics for the for the first four months of 2025 show that there were about 45,000 fewer dairy replacement calves born compared with the same period in 2024 and c. 60,000 fewer than 2023.
“The number of dairy replacements born this year will be nowhere near sufficient to sustain the Irish dairy herd at current levels, particularly when the number of dairy stock being lost to Bovine TB is accounted for,” he said.
“We are now in the middle of peak breeding season. It is vital that farmers consider using more dairy AI (both sexed and conventional) this year to ensure that they are breeding enough replacements for their herds,” the IFA Dairy Chair concluded.
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