Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices remain strong this week. He said steers are quoted from €7.80kg to €8.05kg with heifers making from €7.90kg to €8.10kg base prices. Declan Hanrahan said factories are not leaving any cattle behind them and are offering deals of 10c/kg and more on initial quotes and flat prices of up to €8.50kg for suitable lots of cattle. Young bulls R and U grades range from €7.40kg to €7.70kg. Cow prices are making between €6.80kg and €7.80kg depending on the grade and numbers involved. Declan Hanrahan said the reality is factories are very anxious for cattle and are paying above quotes to secure cattle when pushed. He said farmers should not listen to negative messaging from factories talking down the trade and should resist any attempt by factories to buy cattle at lower prices.
Beef Price Update 10/04/2025
Base Steer €7.70/8.05kg. Heifers €7.80/8.10kg. Flat prices up to €8.50kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.40/7.80Kg. Cows €6.80/7.80kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (06.04.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,545 | ▼-57 | 5% | 36,154 | ▲229 |
| Bull | 526 | ▼-39 | 2% | 6,204 | ▲113 |
| Steer | 14,448 | ▲549 | 45% | 179,490 | ▲9,651 |
| Cow | 7,480 | ▼-536 | 23% | 114,598 | ▼-7,820 |
| Heifer | 12,206 | ▲155 | 38% | 165,237 | ▲19,821 |
| Veal-V | 17 | ▼-230 | 0% | 2,086 | ▼-12,462 |
| Veal-Z | 54 | ▲8 | 0% | 1,148 | ▲359 |
| Total | 32,350 | ▼-4,076 | 100% | 504,917 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (06.04.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 812 | ▲28 | 805 | ▲27 | 799 | ▲25 | 771 | ▲26 |
| Heifers | 817 | ▲28 | 808 | ▲28 | 803 | ▲24 | 761 | ▲29 |
| Y Bulls | 804 | ▲28 | 797 | ▲28 | 777 | ▲27 | 751 | ▲14 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 756 | ▲28 | 714 | ▲21 | 702 | ▲23 |
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 |
| 29/03/2025 | 688.3 | 692 | 686.4 | 691.4 | 678.9 | 680.5 | 525.5 |
| 05/04/2025 | 696.6 | 700.2 | 695.4 | 698.9 | 679.6 | 683.2 | 534.1 |
| Change | ▲8 | ▲8 | ▲4 | ▲8 | ▲1 | ▲3 | ▲9 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 875.7 | 880.3 | 874.2 | 878.6 | 854.4 | 858.9 | 671.4 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 31.12.2022 | 30.12.2023 | 04.01.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 5.21 | € 4.97 | € 5.61 |
| IE + Steers | € 5.00 | € 5.03 | € 5.64 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.12 | € 5.64 | € 6.65 |
Live Cattle Exports 31st March
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said hogget prices have increased by 10c/kg to 20c/kg this week as supplies remain tight and factory demand increases. He said factories are offering deals from €9.30kg to €9.50kg for hogget’s on weights to 23.5kgs and in some deals to 24kgs. He said Spring lamb prices have also increased over the week, lambs are now making from €9.70 to €10.00kg on weights to 21kg. Cull ewe prices are ranging from €5.50kg to €6.00kg in general. Adrian Gallagher said demand is expected to remain strong as factories struggle to secure enough sheep to fill lucrative orders for the upcoming Easter festival. He said factory agents have been very active over the past number of days trying to secure numbers of suitable hogget’s for slaughter as numbers continue to tighten. Adrian Gallagher said farmers should only sell lambs as they become fit, shop around and sell hard as supplies of suitable hoggets are tight.
Lamb Price Update 10/04/2025
Hoggets €9.30kg/9.50kg. Weights to 24kg. Spring lambs €9.70kg to €10.00kg. Weights to 21kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.50/6.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (06.04.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 39,854 | ▼-1,764 | 504,242 | ▼-140,720 |
| Spring Lambs | 334 | ▲168 | 17,829 | ▲7,274 |
| Ewes and Rams | 2,242 | ▼-406 | 44,609 | ▼-24,762 |
| Light Lambs | 3 | ▼-9 | 57 | ▲8 |
| TOTAL | 42,433 | ▼-2,011 | 566,737 | ▼-158,200 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 14 (06.04.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 896.16 | ▲21 | 868.76 | ▲27 |
| YTD Avg | 876.28 | ▲2 | 742.88 | ▲133 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 29/03/2025 | 745.1 | 727.7 | New season Lamb |
| 05/04/2025 | 732.6 | 724.3 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-13 | ▼-3 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 899.6 | 889.4 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
