Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan has critised factories for the latest attempts to cut cattle prices. He said supplies of finished cattle are extremely tight with throughput to date back over 178,000 head. This level of decline in throughput is expected to continue into the coming weeks and months. He said beef production in our key export markets is also down and this supply demand balance must deliver stronger prices for farmers. He said if factories do not stand strong in the market place, they will be the first to lose out. Farmers will simply not produce cattle given the current levels of investment required when there is so much volatility.
Beef Price Update 21/11/2025
Base Steer €7.40/7.60kg. Heifers €7.50/7.70kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.50/7.70Kg. Cows €6.80/7.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 46 (16.11.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,737 | ▲307 | 5% | 90,926 | ▼-2,627 |
| Bull | 339 | ▼-11 | 1% | 21,388 | ▼-4,509 |
| Steer | 12,323 | ▼-589 | 38% | 553,283 | ▼-59,785 |
| Cow | 7,346 | ▲25 | 23% | 312,859 | ▼-75,894 |
| Heifer | 10,337 | ▲1,036 | 32% | 436,945 | ▼-18,857 |
| Veal-V | 40 | ▲11 | 0% | 3,254 | ▼-17,351 |
| Veal-Z | 35 | ▼-4 | 0% | 1,993 | ▲283 |
| Total | 32,157 | ▲775 | 100% | 1,420,648 | ▼-178,560 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 46 (16.11.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 795 | ▼-3 | 787 | ▼-4 | 778 | ▼-6 | 748 | ▼-8 |
| Heifers | 804 | ▲0 | 795 | ▲0 | 792 | ▼-2 | 747 | ▲0 |
| Y Bulls | 789 | ▼-3 | 780 | ▼-5 | 764 | ▼-9 | 754 | ▼-12 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 745 | ▼-6 | 718 | ▼-8 | 702 | ▼-12 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| Steers | Steers | Heifers | Heifers | Y bull | Y bull | Cow | |
| p/kg | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | R3 | R4L | -O4L |
| 08/11/2025 | 666 | 666.9 | 666.4 | 666.6 | 656.6 | 653.6 | 554.2 |
| 15/11/2025 | 668.5 | 671.4 | 667.4 | 668.6 | 657.9 | 656.8 | 555.8 |
| Change | ▲3 | ▲5 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▲1 | ▲3 | ▲2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 820.9 | 824.4 | 819.5 | 821.0 | 807.8 | 806.5 | 682.5 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 04.11.2025 | 09.11.2025 | 08.11.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.59 | € 5.21 | € 7.53 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.87 | € 5.44 | € 7.15 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.52 | € 6.22 | € 7.50 |
Live Cattle Exports 10th November
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said factories must continue this upward momentum in sheep prices to put confidence back into the sector. He said sheep throughput is at an all-time low and factories must step up and maximise returns from the marketplace. Prices in the UK or main export market has been steadily rising in the run up to Christmas and has risen by over 15p/kg in past week on the back of tight supplies and this must be reflected with higher prices. Adrian Gallagher said it’s a critical time of the year and its important factories maintain strong viable prices to reflect production costs on farms.
Lamb Price Update 21/11/2025
Spring lambs €7.70/8.10kg. Weights to 22.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.40/5.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 46 (16.11.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 39 | ▼-13 | 760,095 | ▼-139,030 |
| Spring Lambs | 34,451 | ▲647 | 889,807 | ▼-222,547 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,943 | ▼-9 | 177,844 | ▼-72,054 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▼-3 | 134 | ▲18 |
| TOTAL | 38,433 | ▲622 | 1,827,880 | ▼-433,613 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 46 (16.11.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 747.23 | ▲8 | 766.55 | ▼-19 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-3 | 773.79 | ▲46 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 08/11/2025 | 676.9 | 674.9 | New season Lamb |
| 15/11/2025 | 693.0 | 692.0 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲16 | ▲17 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 850.9 | 849.7 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2nd October 2025
