The Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) has reported a decline in calf registrations across Northern Ireland, with the Wagyu breed seeing a 20% decline on the year.
LMC said that calf registrations had “continued to decline” across Northern Ireland. Data provided by the Northern Ireland Food Animal Information System (NIFAIS) concluded that a total of 286,037 head of calves were registered over the first half of 2024, which was 16,558 head of calves or 5.5% behind levels reported during the corresponding period of 2023.
Within the overall decline of calf registrations, beef sired calves reported a decline of 6.5% or 15,622 head, while dairy sired calves were back 1.5% or 936 head.
Commenting on the downward trend, agricultural market analyst, Claire McAnearney stated: “The breed to report the largest year-on-year decline of 20% was that of Wagyu, which consisted of 1,595 Wagyu calves registered over the first six months of 2024 compared to 1,994 head registered for the corresponding period of 2023.”
However, LMC said that despite the year-on-year decrease in registrations, Wagyu is still a breed which is growing in popularity across NI as registrations for this breed for the corresponding period in 2020 came to a total of 132 head, which LMC said has grown with each year that passes.
It also said that the largest registration of Wagyu calves for the corresponding period was recorded in 2023, when registrations of this breed more than doubled from 917 head in 2022 to 1,994 head recorded in 2023.
Another breed to report a “major registration decline” was that of Jersey calves, which were back 19% year-on-year, with a total of 686 head of calves registered for the first half of 2024 compared to 842 head registered during the corresponding period in 2023. Jersey calf registrations for the first six months of this year were also 13% behind levels during the corresponding period of 2022.
Aberdeen Angus proves most popular
Aberdeen Angus remains the most popular beef sire with a six month total registration of 62,110 calves, accounting for 28% of all beef registrations for the first half of this year.
Commenting on this, McAnearney said: “Despite Aberdeen Angus calf registrations being almost 2% behind levels for the corresponding period of 2023, this breed remains a clear top choice.”
The Aberdeen Angus breed was followed closely by Limousin and Charolais at 22% and 21% respectively of the percentage proportion of beef sired calf registrations in NI by breed for the first six months of 2024.
