Beef & Sheep Update 10th July
Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said beef prices continue to strengthen as cattle supplies tighten further and demand remains strong across our key export markets. The Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark Price has increased for the second consecutive week, reflecting the continued strength of the European beef market. The Prime Irish Composite Price still lags 37c/kg behind the Prime Export Benchmark price and this gap needs to close further as market conditions improve,” he said. Cattle throughput is now back by over 86,000 head for the year to date, with the latest weekly kill back by over 3,000 head on the same week last year, a trend which is expected to continue in the coming weeks as supplies remain very tight. In the UK, cattle throughput is also tightening, and beef prices are strengthening as this continues to impact the market. The IFA Livestock Chair said factories are very anxious for cattle and are sourcing stock for next day processing. They are having to pay up to 20c/kg above quoted prices to secure supplies as farmers push back strongly against the lower quotes of recent weeks. “Factory agents are also very active in marts, where prices for finished cattle are easily comparable with, and in many cases, above factory prices. This is a realistic alternative for farmers with cattle to sell.” “Supplies are tight and will tighten further. Cattle numbers in our key export markets are low, demand remains strong and as prices continue to strengthen in these markets, it provides ample opportunity for factories to increase beef prices further,” he concluded.
Beef Price Update 10/07/2026
Base Steer €6.50/6.60kg. Heifers €6.60/6.70kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Flat deals over €7.40kg. Y Bulls R/U €6.60/6.80Kg. Cows €6.10/6.50kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 27 (05.07.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,904 | ▼-498 | 8% | 63,247 | ▼-1,537 |
| Bull | 450 | ▲35 | 2% | 13,209 | ▼-95 |
| Steer | 8,123 | ▼-222 | 34% | 304,504 | ▼-22,906 |
| Cow | 6,809 | ▲706 | 29% | 173,650 | ▼-29,584 |
| Heifer | 6,499 | ▼-57 | 27% | 255,420 | ▼-30,525 |
| Veal-V | 24 | ▼-5 | 0% | 765 | ▼-1,940 |
| Veal-Z | 19 | ▲6 | 0% | 2,027 | ▲454 |
| Total | 23,828 | ▼-35 | 100% | 812,822 | ▼-86,133 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 27 (05.07.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 693 | ▲11 | 686 | ▲14 | 675 | ▲10 | 642 | ▲13 |
| Heifers | 693 | ▲5 | 681 | ▲7 | 680 | ▲11 | 627 | ▲9 |
| Y Bulls | 686 | ▲8 | 675 | ▲11 | 667 | ▲20 | 659 | ▲19 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 646 | ▲13 | 613 | ▲13 | 603 | ▲31 |
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 |
| 27/06/2026 | 603.9 | 604.1 | 601.6 | 606.8 | 587.2 | 584.2 | 512.4 |
| 04/07/2026 | 602.6 | 605.6 | 602.2 | 608.3 | 590.1 | 587.0 | 514.5 |
| Change | ▼-1 | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▲3 | ▲3 | ▲2 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 739.9 | 743.6 | 739.4 | 746.9 | 724.6 | 720.8 | 631.8 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 29.06.2024 | 28.06.2025 | 27.06.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | € 5.08 | € 6.73 | €6.56 |
| IE + Steers R3 | € 5.22 | € 7.23 | € 6.42 |
| UK + Steers R3 | € 5.68 | € 7.42 | €6.92 |
Live Cattle Exports 22nd June
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady this week. He said factories are very anxious for lambs and competing strongly in marts for the limited supplies on offer. He said Supplies of sheep meat produced across the EU and UK will be down this year and factories must stand firm and maximise returns from the marketplace. For spring lamb factories are offering prices from €9.00kg to €9.30kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. Hogget supplies have almost dried up at this point with factories offering prices ranging from €8.00kg to €8.30kg. Cull ewe prices have also remained steady with prices making from €5.20kg to €5.50kg. Adrian Gallagher said its important factories maintain strong prices to maintain confidence in the sector and to ensure store lamb buyers remain active in marts.
Lamb Price Update 09/07/2026
Hoggets €8.00/8.30kg. Weights to 23kg. Spring Lamb €9.00/9.30kg. Weights to 21.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.20/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 27 (05.07.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 1,705 | ▼-252 | 694,050 | ▼-58,321 |
| Spring Lambs | 31,395 | ▲1,230 | 223,327 | ▼-20,279 |
| Ewes and Rams | 5,018 | ▼-106 | 129,757 | ▲42,670 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-110 |
| TOTAL | 38,118 | ▲872 | 1047,134 | ▼-36,040 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 27 (05.07.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 879.42 | ▼-39 | 818.59 | ▲61 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▲1 | 863.12 | ▼-13 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 27/06/2026 | 870.3 | 869.2 | New season Lamb |
| 04/07/2026 | 831.3 | 830.5 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-39 | ▼-39 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 1020.8 | 1019.8 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
