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Beef & Sheep Update 12th January

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow Field, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said during the ongoing discussions on the new Origin Green Producer Standard for all sectors, IFA had rejected any recommendation in relation to buying stock from QA farms. IFA’s clear stance on this issue is recorded in the Bord Bia discussion document. The IFA Livestock Chairman said this recommendation was discussed in detail at the TAC meeting in September last year, where IFA set out our opposition to it and informed Bord Bia that failure to have this removed would result in IFA’s rejection of the entire Producer Standard for QA farms. He said the Origin Green Producer Standard is about action we take on our own farms and can never extend to interfering with the normal functioning of the competitive live market for cattle.

Beef Price Update 11/01/2024

Base Quotes Steer €5.05/5.15kg. Heifers €5.10/5.20kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.10/5.50Kg. Cows €4.10/4.70kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (07.01.2024)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls2666▲6919%2,666▼-913 
Bull268▲1591%268▲46
Steer10,242▲2,18234%10,242▲429
Cow6,925▲3,34723%6,925▲1,290
Heifer9,763▲3,89533%9,763▼-89 
Veal-V1▼-1 0%1▲0
Veal-Z37▲140%37▲7
Total29,902▲10,285100%29,902▲770

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (07.01.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers538▲3528▲0519▲0490▼-2 
Heifers546▲2534▲3528▲3480▲3
Y Bulls522▲7514▲3500▲1494▲0
Cows0▲0462▼-5 423▼-4 403▲4

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
30/12/2023496.7500.3494.6497482.1484.8328.5
06/01/2024495.5499.3488.8492.5475.2473.4318.5
Change▼-1 ▼-1 ▲0▲0▼-3 ▼-5 ▲13
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)608.4613.1607.4610.5588.8588.8419.6

Euro Price for the Most Recent Week  (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)

Country & Type202110.12.202209.12.2023
EU + Y BullsNot Available€ 5.16€ 4.95
IE + SteersNot Available€ 4.83€ 4.84
UK + Steers Not Available€ 5.18€ 5.62

Live Exports W/C 25.12.2023

Source: Bord Bia

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady as supplies of suitable lambs remain tight. He said factory agents are very anxious for lambs and are competing strongly for the limited number of lambs on offer.  He said mart prices are comparable to and above what factories are paying in cases and farmers should be mindful of this viable alternative. Lambs are making from €6.70kg to €7.00kg with higher deals for groups and larger lots. He said demand for cull ewes in marts has also increased with strong appetite from factory agents for suitable fleshed ewes. Factory prices are making from €2.70kg to €3.20kg in general. Total throughput for the first week of 2024 was 46,351 head back 5,409 head on the corresponding week in 2023. Adrian Gallagher said should sell hard while moving lambs as they become fit.

Lamb Price Update 07/12/2023

Spring Lamb €6.70/7.00/kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €2.70/3.20/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (07.01.2024)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets33,772▲33,72633,772▼-12,520 
Spring Lambs8,571▼-22,445 8,571▲8,571
Ewes and Rams4,005▲1,6414,005▼-1,460 
Light Lambs3▲23▲0
TOTAL46,351▲12,92446,351▼-5,409 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (07.01.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2023Change prev. yr
National Avg Price658.32▲8651.89▲6
YTD Avg658.32▼-1 679.43▼-21 

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
30/12/2024601.0598.4New season lamb
06/01/2024619.0615.6Old season lamb
Change▲18▲17 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)760.1755.9 

Live Sheep Exports 2023

Source: Bord Bia

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