UK dairy calf registrations maintained in Q4 - AHDB

 In the fourth quarter of 2022 (Oct-Dec), calf registrations to dairy dams reached 355,621 head according to BCMS data. This is marginally up by 0.6% (2,199 head) on Q4 2021 and 0.9% up (3,239 head) on the 5-year average, according to a recent AHDB report from analyst Tom Price.

Despite the high cost environment facing farming businesses in 2022, the minimal change in quarterly dairy calf registrations on the year suggests farmers were able to maintain herd sizes. Although the milking herd continued to shrink through 2022, the rate of decline was slower than in previous years, possibly supported by ample availability of youngstock.

On a full year basis, total births to dairy dams in 2022 were only 0.1% (930 head) up on 2021, but 2.7% (39,211 head) up on the 5-year average and the highest number of registered births in over a decade.