Farmers Should Push Back Strongly on Unjustified Attempts to Lower Beef Prices – IFA

IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said farmers should not be misled by the unfounded negative propaganda put forward by factories and their agents.

He said demand for beef is solid in our key export markets, with the latest Bord Bia prime export benchmark price strengthening. The GB beef price is strong and steady at the equivalent of €7.88/kg for R4L steers.

Declan Hanrahan said the facts are very much at odds with the unjustified negativity from factories and their agents.

“Supplies of cattle are also extremely tight and despite their best efforts in slowing the kill, factories have been unable to build numbers. Throughput this year will be down 4-5% compared to 2025. With indications of strong live export demand again this year, factories will not have any surplus of cattle available to them,” he said.

Declan Hanrahan said farmers should push back strongly on attempts by factories to lower prices. 

“They need the cattle and are freely paying 10 to 20c/kg above quotes to secure supplies to meet orders,” he said.