Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factories must start reflecting the realities of the market place with higher prices to beef farmers. He said strong demand and a shortage of beef supplies here and across the EU are driving the trade in the primary markets we export into, but factories continue to fail to reflect the strength of these markets in prices paid to farmers. He said our prices still remain significantly behind these countries where prices are steady to rising on a weekly basis. The gap in prices is unacceptable to winter beef finishers who have invested heavily in having cattle available for factories at the most expensive period of the year. He said despite factories offering lower quotes they are openly paying up to 10c/kg above quotes this week to secure supplies particularly for larger and specialised lots. Declan Hanrahan farmers with cattle to sell should not be misled by factories or their agents. Prices are surging in our key export markets, supplies are tight and demand is strong. There is capacity in the market place for significant beef price increases and factories must close the unacceptable gap with the Bord Bia prime export benchmark price immediately.
Beef Price Update 09/04/2026
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 14 (05.04.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,603 | ▼-470 | 5% | 36,895 | ▲741 |
| Bull | 426 | ▼-157 | 1% | 5,398 | ▼-806 |
| Steer | 12,383 | ▼-380 | 40% | 156,084 | ▼-23,406 |
| Cow | 6,667 | ▲19 | 22% | 91,170 | ▼-23,429 |
| Heifer | 9,729 | ▼-415 | 31% | 139,875 | ▼-25,361 |
| Veal-V | 55 | ▲23 | 0% | 269 | ▼-1,817 |
| Veal-Z | 65 | ▼-37 | 0% | 1,723 | ▲575 |
| Total | 30,928 | ▼-1,417 | 100% | 431,414 | ▼-73,503 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (05.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 710 | ▼-3 | 697 | ▼-7 | 686 | ▼-8 | 654 | ▼-2 |
| Heifers | 718 | ▼-8 | 705 | ▼-5 | 696 | ▼-3 | 652 | ▼-4 |
| Y Bulls | 699 | ▼-11 | 684 | ▼-8 | 670 | ▼-4 | 660 | ▲1 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 656 | ▼-6 | 616 | ▼-5 | 604 | ▼-3 |
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 |
| 28/03/2026 | 639.5 | 642.5 | 640.1 | 642.9 | 628.7 | 626.8 | 551.5 |
| 04/04/2026 | 640.3 | 643.2 | 639.8 | 642.5 | 628.7 | 619.9 | 551.3 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲0 | ▼-0 | ▲0 | ▼-7 | ▼-0 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 786.2 | 789.8 | 785.6 | 788.9 | 772.0 | 761.2 | 676.9 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 23.03.2024 | 22.03.2025 | 21.03.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.07 | € 6.31 | €7.26 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.17 | € 6.12 | € 6.85 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.73 | € 8.01 | €7.35 |
Live Cattle Exports 23rd March
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said sheep prices remain firm as strong market demand continues to drive the trade. He said prices in our key export markets are strengthening on the back of tight supplies and are projected to remain tight in the coming weeks and months. Eurostat production trends have forecasted a sharp decline of sheep production across the EU of up to 17.8% between the second semester of 2025 and 2026. UK sheep production is forecasted to fall approximately 3% in 2026. He said this tightening supply base across Europe presents a clear opportunity for the Irish sheep sector which factories must take full advantage off. He said low supplies and increased factory demand is feeding through to mart sales where prices are frequently above what factories are offering making it a viable alternative for sellers unable to secure the higher factory prices. Adrian Gallagher said factories must recognise the opportunity presented by the declining EU sheep flock and ensure prices remain strong, which is vital to maintaining farmer confidence and supporting the long-term sustainability of the sheep sector.
Lamb Price Update 09/04/2026
Hoggets €9.00/9.40kg. Weights to 23.5kg. Spring Lamb €10.00/10.20kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.20/5.40/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (05.04.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 39,744 | ▼-2,932 | 476,385 | ▼-27,857 |
| Spring Lambs | 699 | ▲699 | 33,396 | ▲15,567 |
| Ewes and Rams | 4,933 | ▲974 | 61,538 | ▲16,929 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-57 |
| TOTAL | 45,376 | ▼-1,259 | 571,319 | ▲4,582 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (05.04.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 876.77 | ▲70 | 875.16 | ▲2 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲18 | 874.75 | ▼-100 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 28/03/2026 | 869.3 | 867.3 | New season Lamb |
| 04/04/2026 | 870.5 | 865.5 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲1 | ▼-2 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1068.9 | 1062.8 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
