The uptake in the use of Aberdeen Angus genetics in the breeding herd is also on the rise in GB in recent years, official calf registration figures show.
According to the most recent data available from the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) in England during 2012, 167,891 AA and AAX calves were registered, which has increased to 322,946 head in 2022.
This is an increase of 155,055 head or 92.4% jump over the ten-year period, the LMC reports in its latest release.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, all AA-bred calf registrations amounted to 85,644 head in 2012 and rose to 139,705 head last year.
This equates to an increase of 54,061 head or 63% over the period.
Wales, on the other hand, recorded the largest proportional increase in AA calf registrations of all the GB regions, up 33,741 head or over 256% from 2012 levels to a total of 46,893 head last year.
AA cattle in NI
Last week, That’s Farming, reported that Aberdeen Angus continues to be the dominant sire used across both dairy and suckler herds in Northern Ireland, calf registration figures show.
In its latest release, the LMC – Livestock and Meat Commission – has reviewed calf registrations, which stood at 46,830 beef-sired calves on NI farms during April, which represents an 8.1% decline from April 2022 levels when 50,978 beef-sired calves were registered.
Angus has accounted for 30.9% of beef-sired calf registrations in Northern Ireland during 2023 to date, figures from APHIS/DAERA shows, along with the following:
- Charolais – 18.1%;
- Limousin – 20.6%;
- Belgian Blue – 9.2%;
- Hereford – 7.3%;
- Simmental – 5.3%;
- Other beef breeds – 8.6%.
There were 11,815 AA calves registered during April this year, bringing Aberdeen Angus calf registrations to the close of April this year to total 42,968 head, representing 31% of all beef calf registrations in the region.
This was an increase from 39,617 AA registrations recorded during the corresponding period in 2022 when they made up 29% of all beef-sired calf registrations.
Read more on this news article.
