There has been no increase in the number of farmers buying calves to rear this year - or the number of calves being reared by each farmer - according to official Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) data.

As of May 28, 2025, DAFM data shows that 25,328 farmers bought calves so far this year. In the same time period last year, 25,349 herds notified DAFM of inward calf movements.

The average number of calves moved into a herd in both periods was 19.

The table below details the number of herds that notified DAFM of inward calf movements from January to May of 2024 and 2025, and the average number of calves moved into a herd in both periods:

Responding to a query from Agriland relating to the number of farmers rearing calves this year compared to last year, a spokesperson for DAFM said: "To date in 2025, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has been notified that 25,328 herds moved calves into their herd.

"In the same period last year, 25,349 herds notified DAFM of inward calf movements.

"The average number of calves moved into a herd in both periods was 19. This data was extracted from the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement system on May 28, 2025."

DAFM has defined a calf as 0-6 months-of-age for the purpose of this query.

The significant rise in calf prices this year was originally being attributed by mart managers and industry personnel to both strong export buyer activity and an increase in the number of farmers buying calves.

The understanding was that the strong store cattle prices was causing more farmers to go to the calf ring to buy calves however the DAFM data shows there has been no rise in the number of Irish farmers rearing calves this year.

While the number of calves being bought by Irish farmers for rearing has not increased, there has been a rise in calf export numbers, with just under 188,000 calves exported as of May 29 this year. Calf exports are up 13% on last year.