Dairy calf registrations: Numbers of births to dairy dams boom in Q3 showing a shift towards autumn block calving

Births to dairy dams in the third quarter of this year (July – September) have totalled 458,473 head, according to the latest BCMS data. This marks the highest recorded figure for Q3, and an increase of 3.0% compared to the same period in 2023. However, year-to-date (Jan-Sept) total registrations are up by only 0.8% whilst looking at the preceding 12 months show that registrations rose by only 0.9%. This would indicate a change in the months of calving (reflective of a shift towards Autumn block) but also a slight increase in calvings overall could indicate a small degree of herd expansion and less culling as a result of better prices.

Calf registrations in July dropped by 0.7% year-on-year but increased in August and September by 7.5% and 1.2% respectively which offers further evidence of a shift to Autumn block calving. These differences are even more pronounced compared to the 5-year average. Consequently, registrations declined in Q2. The increase in GB milk deliveries recently may also point towards this change in systems (although this is not the only factor as rising prices and better weather are also playing a big role).

Comparing January to September registrations (+0.8% year-on-year) to year-to-date milk deliveries, GB milk volumes were marginally lower. This suggests that milk yields were impacted by the poor weather and an unfavourable milk to feed price ratio in the first half of 2024.

Sign up to receive the latest information from AHDB.