There was a drop of almost 2 per cent in the number of calves born in the State last year, the Department of Agriculture and Food has said.
The latest figures from the Department said that more than 2.14 million calves were registered in the State in 2003, a drop of 35,000 head on the previous year.
Friesians were the most popular breed accounting for over a quarter of all calves registered. The number of Friesian calves, the most popular breed of animal used in the dairy industry, came to 550,000 head.
Traditional breeds of Irish cattle accounted for 378,000 head or 18 per cent with Aberdeen Angus and Hereford accounting for 49 per cent of the traditional breeds and Hereford, 46 per cent.
The number of Continental breeds registered last year stood at 1.21 million which was 56 per cent of the total registration. Of the Continental breeds, Charol-lais was the most popular, making up 530,000 head or 44 per cent.
The number of Limousin calves registered was estimated to be 31 per cent. The number of Simmental calves registered was 129,000 or 11 per cent of the total Continental breeds. The figures also showed that the number of Belgian Blue calves born last year was 5 per cent of the overall total .
Agricultural experts will be monitoring calves registered this year as this will give a clear indication of coming trends in the industry in the post-EU reform environment. From the end of this year direct payments to farmers which will be €1.7 billion this year, will no longer be linked to production and in theory, farmers will not be required to own animals to collect subsidies.