There have been over 850,000 calves registered in Ireland to date this year.

According to figures from the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), a total of 851,092 calves have been registered in Ireland as of Friday, March 6.

The total number of calves registered to date this year is running over 37,600 head above the same time period last year when 813,444 calves had been registered.

Just over 105,000 calves have been registered to suckler cows so far this year, an increase of almost 6,700 head on last year.

Almost 746,000 calves have been registered to dairy cows this year, a rise of almost 28,000 on the 718,000 calves registered to dairy cows this time last year.

Over 160,000 calves registered last week

In the week ending Friday, March 6, just over 161,000 calves were registered.

Of these, 20,400 were registered to beef-breed dams or suckler cows and almost 141,000 were registered to dairy cows.

February and March generally see peak calf registrations in Ireland in line with spring-calving season.

The total number of calves registered to date this year is running above last year, indicating more cows are calving earlier in the year this year than in previous years.

More calves to have CBVs displayed on mart boards

On Friday, March 6, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) confirmed that the Commercial Beef Value (CBV) will now be shown on mart sale boards for all genotyped animals with a verified sire, regardless of whether the herd selling the cattle is a HerdPlus member.

Previously, the display of CBV values was restricted to animals being sold from HerdPlus herds.

The ICBF has said the new enhancement will be adapted from today (Friday, March 6).

The move will ensure that "valuable genetic data" generated through the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) and Suckler Carbon Efficiency Programme (SCEP) can be used by "as many herds as possible" and aims to help deliver "greater value from the industry’s investment in genotyping", according to the ICBF.