Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices edge upwards by 10c/kg to 20c/kg as factories dig in for supplies. He said factories are leaving no cattle behind and are have to pay 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to secure cattle. Factories are offering deals up to €7.00kg and €7.10kg for steers and heifers with flat deals up to €7.70kg available for suitable lots. Cow prices have also increased with prices from €6.30kg to €6.90kg depending on the grade available to sellers this week. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €7.00kg to €7.30kg. He said prices paid by factories agents in marts for finished cattle and cows are regularly above what some factories are quoting. The mart trade is very much a credible alternative for farmers particularly those selling smaller numbers to secure higher prices. Supplies in our key markets are strong contributing to strong and upwards of prices in these destinations and factories must continue this upward momentum in prices to keep pace with prices in our key markets.
Beef Price Update 13/03/2025
Base Steer €6.85/7.00kg. Heifers €6.90/7.10kg. Flat prices up to €7.70kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.00/7.30Kg. Cows €6.30/6.90kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,352 | ▲49 | 6% | 29,271 | ▲447 |
| Bull | 571 | ▲75 | 1% | 3,834 | ▼-8 |
| Steer | 14,210 | ▲24 | 37% | 125,347 | ▲2,472 |
| Cow | 8,633 | ▼-302 | 22% | 83,479 | ▼-7,367 |
| Heifer | 12,274 | ▼-533 | 32% | 118,864 | ▲11,744 |
| Veal-V | 410 | ▲4 | 1% | 1,303 | ▼-6,449 |
| Veal-Z | 78 | ▲0 | 0% | 992 | ▲377 |
| Total | 38,528 | ▼-683 | 100% | 363,090 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 716 | ▲14 | 711 | ▲16 | 705 | ▲14 | 676 | ▲17 |
| Heifers | 724 | ▲18 | 713 | ▲17 | 708 | ▲13 | 666 | ▲17 |
| Y Bulls | 712 | ▲14 | 702 | ▲14 | 686 | ▲15 | 674 | ▲18 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 658 | ▲17 | 624 | ▲15 | 612 | ▲17 |
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 |
| 01/03/2025 | 648.7 | 652.4 | 646.5 | 650.9 | 634.8 | 629.4 | 502.5 |
| 08/03/2025 | 662.6 | 666.5 | 660.0 | 663.2 | 646.6 | 644.8 | 505.1 |
| Change | ▲14 | ▲14 | ▲4 | ▲12 | ▲12 | ▲15 | ▲3 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 833.0 | 837.9 | 829.7 | 833.7 | 812.9 | 810.6 | 635.0 |
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 24th February
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher has criticised the actions of factories and stated that is will have serious long-term implications for the sheep sector. Sheep producers are facing renewed price pressure this week with hogget quotes pulled by 20c/kg compared to last week. Base quotes are in the region of €8.60kg in most plants with quality assured hogget’s offered returns of €8.70kg to €8.90kg. The price pressure comes following the recent cuts to carcass weights from 24kg to 23kg. Adrian Gallagher has criticised what he describes as unjustified and unacceptable cuts. He said the combination of cuts to paid carcase and now price has taken €20/hogget directly from the farmers pockets. He said we heard stories in recent weeks of factories being concerned about the fall off in ewe numbers and longer-term supplies and looking for initiatives to maintain numbers but they turn around and introduce unjustified cuts which is irresponsible and if not reversed immediately will have serious long term implications.
Lamb Price Update 13/03/2025
Lambs €8.90kg/9.10kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.90/5.20/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 44,542 | ▼-75 | 347,957 | ▼-96,132 |
| Spring Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 17,278 | ▲8,707 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3,347 | ▼-777 | 33,920 | ▼-16,779 |
| Light Lambs | 13 | ▲10 | 32 | ▲3 |
| TOTAL | 47,902 | ▼-842 | 399,187 | ▼-104,201 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 10 (09.03.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 878.14 | ▼-3 | 790.58 | ▲88 |
| YTD Avg | 879.14 | ▼-0 | 701.06 | ▲178 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 01/03/2025 | 743.8 | 738.0 | New season Lamb |
| 08/03/2025 | 745.3 | 738.9 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲2 | ▲1 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 915.2 | 907.3 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2024
