Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said there is no justification for the extent of beef price cuts factories are attempting. He said the UK market is solid, retail sales have stabilised with good demand for beef despite price increases at retail level. Declan Hanrahan said UK beef prices have risen steadily over the last number of weeks reflecting the demand for beef in this vital market for us. The IFA Livestock Chair said the undermining of the EU market that has taken place with the increased volumes of Brazilian beef in advance of the impending ban on Brazilian beef from September 3rd should be short-lived. The removal of Brazilian beef from the EU market in September will increase demand for Irish beef and factories must use the opportunity to return higher prices to farmers. Declan Hanrahan said the UK market is currently returning up to 50c/kg more than our price and the Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark Tracker price despite the weakness of the Eu market now is still 8c/kg above ours. He said factories here must stop the race to the bottom and increase beef prices to farmers.
Beef Price Update 14/08/2026
Base Steer €6.30/6.50kg. Heifers €6.40/6.60kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.30/6.50Kg. Cows €5.80/6.40kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 32 (09.08.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,635 | ▼-180 | 5% | 72,339 | ▼-1,055 |
| Bull | 570 | ▲71 | 2% | 15,728 | ▲17 |
| Steer | 13,205 | ▲2,200 | 43% | 359,616 | ▼-15,729 |
| Cow | 6,607 | ▼-1,096 | 21% | 209,841 | ▼-20,789 |
| Heifer | 8,757 | ▲258 | 28% | 295,453 | ▼-26,225 |
| Veal-V | 130 | ▲39 | 0% | 1,393 | ▼-1,452 |
| Veal-Z | 10 | ▼-66 | 0% | 2,148 | ▲453 |
| Total | 30,914 | ▲1,226 | 100% | 956,518 | ▼-64,780 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 32 (09.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 692 | ▼-8 | 681 | ▼-12 | 671 | ▼-14 | 645 | ▼-8 |
| Heifers | 706 | ▼-5 | 688 | ▼-11 | 680 | ▼-11 | 636 | ▼-10 |
| Y Bulls | 693 | ▼-5 | 679 | ▼-6 | 664 | ▼-1 | 644 | ▼-11 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 646 | ▼-8 | 615 | ▼-11 | 604 | ▼-12 |
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 |
| 01/08/2026 | 613.1 | 616.3 | 611 | 619.9 | 603.1 | 601.6 | 523.1 |
| 08/08/2026 | 614.5 | 615.7 | 612.6 | 619.1 | 603.8 | 604.4 | 513.2 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▼-1 | ▲0 | ▼-1 | ▲1 | ▲3 | ▼10 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 754.5 | 756.0 | 752.2 | 760.2 | 741.4 | 742.1 | 630.2 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 03.08.2024 | 02.08.2025 | 01.08.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls R3 | 4.76 | 6.76 | 6.32 |
| IE + Steers R3 | 4.79 | 7.56 | 6.63 |
| UK + Steers R3 | 5.44 | 7.44 | 7.12 |
Live cattle exports 3rd August
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said we are facing into a critical time of year for sheep farmers where breeding decisions will be made on farms. He said the decline in the sector over recent years is there for all to see with over 800,000 sheep for processing lost from the sector, last year’s census returns showed a stabilisation of the ewe flock which must now be built on. Adrian Gallagher said there is an urgent need for confidence to be restored among sheep farmers if we are serious about rebuilding the national flock and building back up our levels of production of sheep meat to retain key high-end customers. The IFA Sheep Chair said this must start with strong viable prices from factories without the volatility that sheep farmers do not have the capacity to absorb. He said the hill sheep sector is a key part of sheep production, but very low incomes, generational renewal challenges and misguided policies have forced farmers out of production. The hill sheep sector is a significant contributor to ensuring a year-round supply of lamb for processors and are dependent on store lamb sales for their incomes. Adrian Gallagher said factories have a key role to play in their pricing of lambs over the coming months to ensure markets are strong for store lambs and that both lowland and hill farmers have enough confidence to stay in the sector and increase the numbers of ewes put with rams this breeding season.
Lamb Price Update 06/08/2026
Spring lamb €8.20/8.50kg. Weights to 22kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.10/5.50/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 32 (09.08.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 263 | ▼-7 | 697202 | ▼-59,794 |
| Spring Lambs | 35545 | ▼-324 | 395723 | ▼-13,656 |
| Ewes and Rams | 7456 | ▲747 | 161016 | ▲55,327 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-126 |
| TOTAL | 43264 | ▲416 | 1253941 | ▼-18,249 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 32 (09.08.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 821.79 | ▼-52 | 767.65 | ▲54 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-1 | 850.41 | ▲0 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 01/08/2026 | 783.3 | 781.4 | New season Lamb |
| 08/08/2026 | 726.0 | 723.5 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-57 | ▼-58 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 891.5 | 888.4 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports
