High attrition rates remain in numbers of farmers rearing calves

High attrition rates remain in the number of farmers rearing calves annually, according to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) data. Agriland recently requested data from the DAFM to understand the trends in the number of farmers purchasing calves over the past two years. The data collected spans from January 1 to March 10 of both 2025 and 2026, with a calf defined as a bovine animal below six months of age.

In the time period from January 1 to March 10 of 2025, a total of 143,331 calves were purchased by 10,183 herds. This indicates that, on average, each herd bought almost 15 calves during that time frame (14.75 calves per herd). Fast forward to the same period in 2026, and the numbers show a slight decrease: 135,494 calves were bought by 9,413 herds, averaging just over 14 calves per herd (14.39 calves per herd).

However, the most concerning aspect of the data is the high attrition rate among farmers rearing calves. Out of the 10,183 herds that purchased calves in the specified time frame in 2025, 5,774 herds did not buy any calves in the same period in 2026. This equates to nearly 57% of calf-rearing herds not returning to buy calves in the subsequent year. Conversely, 4,713 herds bought calves in the 2026 period but did not purchase any in the 2025 period.

These figures suggest that the attrition rate among farmers rearing calves is persistently high. While it remains to be seen how the overall trends will look as the peak calf trading season concludes for the year, the data up to March 10 indicates that fewer herds are buying fewer calves, and the high attrition rates are continuing.

The reasons behind this attrition could be multifaceted, including economic challenges, changing market conditions, or shifts in farming priorities. Regardless of the specific factors, the data underscores the need for ongoing support and analysis to understand the sustainability of the calf rearing sector in Ireland.

As the calf trading season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these trends evolve and whether any changes in policy or market conditions might influence the attrition rates. For now, the current data serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by farmers in this particular segment of the agricultural industry.

Related to this story, North Cork Creameries recently signed a new agreement, highlighting the dynamic nature of the agricultural sector and the interconnectedness of various aspects of farming in Ireland.