As we progress further into the autumn calving season and drying off for spring, calving herds edge closer, and it is time to analyse calf markets and trade.

The biggest problem over the last couple of years, has been the poor trade of young bull calves off farms and in marts, which has seen an increase in sexed semen and beef semen used on dairy farms, which has only reduced the problem ever so slightly.

Calf rearing is at the helm of any dairy operation, as farmers take pride in making sure calves are provided with clean bedding, fresh hay, fresh water and fed twice a day with high quality milk.

Ireland has one of the lowest calf mortality rates in Europe, along with the lowest use of antibiotics on calves.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM) needs to reassess some regulations around calf rearing and calf sales to try and rectify the poor trade of calves.

The majority of farmers would like to see an extension of the bovine tuberculosis (TB) test requirement of 42 days to 72 days if calves are being sold to domestic markets.

Under EU regulations, calves that are sold out of the country over 42-days-old, require clear TB test in order to be exported. This begs the question of, should domestic sales be limited?

TB test requirement

Agriland spoke with the chair of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) dairy committee, Stephen Arthur, who feels that change is needed in the TB test requirements to ensure a better trade of calves.

According to Arthur, rejuvenating markets should be a two-prong approach:

“The calf welfare scheme needs to be angled towards the calf rearer and pay the farmers who rear the calf, as they are such an important part of the cog.

“The other side of it, is pushing the TB test requirement an extra month to 72 days, as there is nothing said that in domestic markets, calves have to be TB tested over 42 days, they can get away with being tested after 72 days and we know that.”

The reality is, that farmers should be given the opportunity to rear that calf to up to 72 days so that when they are selling the calf, there is more of a demand for the calf and the calf is sold at decent price.

Speaking about what this might do for calf markets, Arthur said: “The first 72 days of a calf’s life is so important, and this will give the farmer the opportunity to get the calf fully reared and get better quality calves for sale.

“The market for a reared calf multiplies and gives confidence to the farmer selling the calf as a calf at that age is fit and ready to go out to grass.”

The problem with the 42-day requirement is that farmers are only beginning to get the calf thriving, the calf at this stage is only six-weeks-old and is beginning to get weaned onto once-a-day milk, and only beginning to eat some ration.

The hard work is nearly done at this stage and farmers should be given the opportunity to wean the calf off milk completely so that a healthy, well-fleshed calf is sold off the farm.

Speaking of the other side of the story, Arthur said: “There’s calves coming now with higher CBV (commercial beef value) and better potential to deliver and if those calves get the head start of the 72 days, the farmer buying them will have great confidence that the calf will deliver profits.

“Why are we developing sexed semen and CBV? Then letting it fall down on the calf rearing because we are not interested in putting some money in for the calf rearers.”

Arthur added that “you look at our calf rearing at the minute, and we are doing a good job, but why not let the farmer finish the job off completely with the 72 days”.

“Most farmers in the country are getting their calves into great condition in under 42 days but rearing them beyond that would give the farmer better confidence in selling a calf of a higher value,” he said.

The price of a TB test for calf is around €6, plus the call-out of the vet, and as we know, a calf at that age that is still sucking milk may not get sold for €5.

Calf markets

The IFA has lobbied for a scheme that would deliver €100 to the rearer for the first 12 months of the beef calf’s life and another €100 for the rearer beyond 12 months, which includes dairy yearlings and suckler weanlings.

This would encourage farmers to keep on calves, rather than sell them on for poor money and will create a market and demand for the calves.

There needs to be a move towards getting all calf-rearing equipment VAT refundable or alternatively implement a zero VAT rate on such investments.

Some sort of accelerated tax relief on calf housing to make it easier for farmers to build and accommodate the proper rearing of calves.

The number one thing for complete calf welfare is addressing the problems at farm level first, which is the restrictions of selling calves after 42 days.

The market of dairy calves has been in stagnant position for the last few years, and so common sense must prevail as an appetite for stronger, healthier calves needs to built.

“We need to encourage people to rear the calves on, put more confidence into the farmer’s mind and get them calves into a higher value and sell a better calf into the market,” Arthur added.