Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factories must and can do more for beef finishers. He said prices in our key export markets are strong and significantly above ours which must be reflected in the direction of travel of our beef prices. Farmers have made huge investments in buying stock and finishing them for factories at the most expensive time of the year only to find themselves faced with weak selling and opportunism from factories. He said despite the negative propaganda, factories are anxious for stock and are sourcing cattle for immediate slaughter and are paying above initial quotes in cases particularly for larger and specialised lots. Factories are paying from €6.60kg to €6.80kg for steers and €6.70kg to €6.90kg for heifers this week. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €6.80kg to €7.00kg. Cull cow prices range from €6.10kg to €6.70kg depending on the grade. Declan Hanrahan said farmers should not be misled by the unfounded negativity from factories. Markets are strong, supplies are tight and factories must start reflecting the realities of the market place with higher prices for beef finishers.
Beef Price Update 16/04/2026
Base Steer €6.60/6.80kg. Heifers €6.70/6.90kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.00Kg. Cows €6.10/6.70kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (12.04.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,353 | ▼-250 | 4% | 38,248 | ▲416 |
| Bull | 542 | ▲116 | 2% | 5,940 | ▼-813 |
| Steer | 12,105 | ▼-278 | 40% | 168,189 | ▼-25,637 |
| Cow | 6,514 | ▼-153 | 21% | 97,684 | ▼-24,862 |
| Heifer | 9,998 | ▲269 | 33% | 149,873 | ▼-26,351 |
| Veal-V | 36 | ▼-19 | 0% | 305 | ▼-1,948 |
| Veal-Z | 34 | ▼-31 | 0% | 1,757 | ▲557 |
| Total | 30,582 | ▼-346 | 100% | 461,996 | ▼-78,638 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (12.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 707 | ▼-3 | 697 | ▲0 | 684 | ▼-2 | 651 | ▼-3 |
| Heifers | 717 | ▼-1 | 703 | ▼-2 | 695 | ▼-1 | 652 | ▲0 |
| Y Bulls | 702 | ▲3 | 687 | ▲3 | 668 | ▼-2 | 654 | ▼-6 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 651 | ▼-5 | 616 | ▲0 | 605 | ▲1 |
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 |
| 04/04/2026 | 640.3 | 643.2 | 639.8 | 642.5 | 628.7 | 619.9 | 551.3 |
| 11/04/2026 | 638.8 | 642.9 | 639.4 | 643.6 | 629.3 | 626.3 | 553.5 |
| Change | ▼-2 | ▼-0 | ▲0 | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲6 | ▲2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 784.4 | 789.4 | 785.1 | 790.3 | 772.7 | 769.0 | 679.6 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 06.04.2024 | 05.04.2025 | 04.04.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.03 | € 6.35 | €7.14 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.21 | € 7.66 | € 6.67 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.69 | € 8.02 | €7.30 |
Live Cattle Exports 6th April
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallager said demand for sheep meat is intensifying each week against a backdrop of tight supplies. He said hogget throughput is back 7% to date and with the limited number of spring lambs coming to market factories are finding it increasingly difficult to fill weekly kills. Quality fleshed lambs are tight on the ground and factory agents have been very active in recent days trying to secure suitable lambs and hoggets for next day processing. He said factories are offering deals from €9.20kg to €9.60kg on weights to 23.5kg for hogget’s this week. The limited number of spring lambs on offer are making from €10.10kg to €10.20kg on weights to 21.5kg. Cull ewe prices have also risen and are making from €5.30kg to €5.50kg with some isolated deals above this for larger and specialised lots. The IFA Sheep chair said demand for sheep meat in our key export markets remains strong and factories must ensure these positive market conditions are reflected with continued strong prices paid to sheep farmers.
Lamb Price Update 16/04/2026
Hoggets €9.30/9.60kg. Weights to 23.5kg. Spring Lamb €10.00/10.20kg. Weights to 21kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.30/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (12.04.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 32,289 | ▼-7,455 | 508,674 | ▼-36,387 |
| Spring Lambs | 997 | ▲298 | 34,393 | ▲15,343 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,566 | ▼-367 | 66,104 | ▲18,950 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-63 |
| TOTAL | 37,852 | ▼-7,524 | 609,171 | ▼-2,157 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 15 (12.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 895.70 | ▲19 | 903.75 | ▼-8 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲16 | 878.11 | ▼-88 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 04/04/2026 | 870.5 | 865.5 | New season Lamb |
| 11/04/2026 | 853.7 | 846.7 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-17 | ▼-19 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1048.3 | 1039.7 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
