Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices have moved up further as supplies tighten on the ground. He said factories are struggling to secure numbers of cattle to fill orders and are paying up 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to tie down deals this week. Demand at mart sales has also intensified as factories source cattle for next day processing.
Prices in our key markets are strengthening pointing to strong and favourable market conditions which must be returned with higher beef prices he said. This week factories are offering deals from €6.50kg to €6.70kg for steers and €7.60kg to €7.80kg for heifers with higher deals for larger and specialised lots. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €7.60kg to €7.80kg. Cull cows are making from €6.00kg to €6.60kg.
Beef Price Update: 25/09/2026
Base Steer €6.50/6.70kg. Heifers €6.60/6.80kg. Flat deals up to €7.20kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.60/6.80Kg. Cows €6.00/6.60kg
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (20.09.2026)]
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,576 | ▲264 | 5% | 81,312 | ▲317 |
| Bull | 480 | ▼-99 | 1% | 19,156 | ▲743 |
| Steer | 14,807 | ▲530 | 45% | 446,486 | ▼-4,764 |
| Cow | 6,780 | ▼-486 | 21% | 250,397 | ▼-11,781 |
| Heifer | 9,291 | ▲211 | 28% | 349,892 | ▼-18,252 |
| Veal-V | 16 | ▼-28 | 0% | 1,683 | ▼-1,305 |
| Veal-Z | 12 | ▼-8 | 0% | 1,683 | ▼-115 |
| Total | 32,962 | ▲384 | 100% | 2,232 | ▼-1,183,534 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (20.09.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 691 | ▲2 | 685 | ▲4 | 677 | ▲6 | 653 | ▲7 |
| Heifers | 700 | ▲1 | 690 | ▲3 | 685 | ▲5 | 647 | ▲7 |
| Y Bulls | 691 | ▲5 | 688 | ▲9 | 677 | ▲4 | 654 | ▼-1 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 653 | ▼-3 | 624 | ▲7 | 610 | ▲7 |
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 |
| 12/09/2026 | 620.1 | 626.4 | 617.9 | 625.9 | 609.9 | 610.8 | 481.4 |
| 19/09/2026 | 628.0 | 633.8 | 626.5 | 632.4 | 614.6 | 610.1 | 487.2 |
| Change | ▲8 | ▲7 | ▲0 | ▲7 | ▲5 | ▼-1 | ▲6 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 771.1 | 778.2 | 769.3 | 776.5 | 754.7 | 749.1 | 598.2 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 14.09.2024 | 03.09.2025 | 12.9.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | 5.17 | 6.95 | 6.38 |
| IE + Steers R3 | 5.06 | 7.36 | 6.53 |
| UK + Steers R3 | 5.96 | 7.46 | 7.13 |
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices have increased by 10c/kg this week as strong demand and tight supplies continue to drive the sheep trade. He said lamb prices in the UK have also risen by over 10p/kg in the past week with prices now equivalent to over €8.50/kg, while French prices are currently above €9/kg. Adrian Gallagher said sheep factories here must start reflecting the reality of the marketplace and return prices that are more in line with those available in our key export markets.
Factories are offering deals from €8.00kg to €8.30kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Cull ewe prices are making from €4.50kg to €5.00kg. Paid weights for lambs have also increased, with factories now paying on weights up to 22.5kg. Mart sales have also improved and have proven to be a competitive alternative for sellers unable to secure the higher factory prices. The IFA Sheep Chair said with supplies remaining tight and demand continuing to strengthen, the outlook for the sheep trade remains positive for the coming weeks.
Lamb Price Update 25/09/2026
Spring lamb €8.00/8.30kg. Weights to 22.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.50/5.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (20.09.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 347 | ▲247 | 698,775 | ▼-60,545 |
| Spring Lambs | 34,970 | ▼-2,630 | 621,045 | ▲5,445 |
| Ewes and Rams | 7,990 | ▼-809 | 212,748 | ▲74,082 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 2 | ▼-127 |
| TOTAL | 43,307 | ▼-3,192 | 1,532,570 | ▲18,855 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 38 (20.09.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 774.79 | ▲5 | 747.11 | ▲28 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-2 | 835.65 | ▲3 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 12/08/2026 | 714.7 | 713.2 | New season Lamb |
| 19/08/2026 | 725.5 | 724.0 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲11 | ▲11 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 890.8 | 889.0 | 1 |
