Beef & Sheep Update 15th December
Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Brendan Golden said beef prices continue to move on with base prices moving up a further 10c/kg this week. Base prices for steers and heifers are making up to €5.00kg and €5.05kg with deals 10c/kg above this achieved for larger and specialised lots. Young bull prices have likewise strengthened with quotes between €5.00kg and €5.30kg secured for R and U grading bulls. Cow quotes are ranging from €3.90kg for P grades up to €4.60kg for well fleshed U grade cows. The IFA Chairman said factories must maintain this upward trajectory in prices and close the current 10c/kg gap between the Prime Irish composite price and the prime export benchmark price. The IFA Livestock Chairman said market conditions are favourable in our key export markets and farmers should reject the lower quotes offered by factories and sell hard as cattle become fit.
Beef Price Update 14/12/2023
Base Quotes Steer €4.95/5.10kg. Heifers €5.00/5.15kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.00/5.30Kg. Cows €3.90/4.60kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (10.12.2023)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 2,768 | ▼-84 | 7% | 110,303 | ▼-15,196 |
| Bull | 361 | ▼-81 | 1% | 26,564 | ▼-306 |
| Steer | 12,171 | ▼-576 | 32% | 662,750 | ▼-21,149 |
| Cow | 11,670 | ▲74 | 31% | 393,440 | ▲2,096 |
| Heifer | 10,875 | ▲525 | 29% | 465,512 | ▼-13,402 |
| Veal-V | 29 | ▲18 | 0% | 30,757 | ▲2,385 |
| Veal-Z | 71 | ▲8 | 0% | 1,679 | ▲38 |
| Total | 37,945 | ▼-116 | 100% | 1,691,005 | ▼-45,534 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (10.12.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 517 | ▲6 | 508 | ▲6 | 496 | ▲6 | 465 | ▲8 |
| Heifers | 524 | ▲6 | 513 | ▲7 | 507 | ▲8 | 455 | ▲4 |
| Y Bulls | 507 | ▲9 | 499 | ▲7 | 481 | ▲8 | 474 | ▲13 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 448 | ▲5 | 413 | ▲6 | 390 | ▲4 |
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 |
| 02/12/2023 | 490.5 | 494.2 | 488.8 | 492.5 | 475.2 | 473.4 | 318.5 |
| 09/12/2023 | 490.5 | 494.1 | 488.7 | 493.1 | 477.2 | 473.0 | 322.6 |
| Change | ▲0 | ▼-0 | ▼-0 | ▲1 | ▼-2 | ▼-0 | ▲4 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 602.3 | 606.7 | 600.1 | 605.5 | 586.0 | 580.8 | 396.1 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 04.12.2021 | 03.12.2022 | 02.12.2023 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.42 | € 5.11 | € 4.94 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.22 | € 4.75 | € 4.78 |
| UK + Steers | € 4.86 | € 5.19 | € 5.60 |
Live Exports W/C 04.12.2023
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said demand for suitably fleshed slaughter fit lambs has increased. He said quality fleshed lambs are scarce on the grounds and factory agents have been very active in recent days trying to secure suitable lambs. Prices are making from €6.60kg to €6.85kg with the higher prices becoming a lot easier to negotiate in recent days he said. Cull ewes in general are making from €2.70kg to €3.10kg with some isolated deals higher than this. He said high production costs continue to impact sheep farmers across the country and factories must come forward with higher prices that reflect the increased costs of production on sheep farms. Demand for sheep meat in our key export markets is positive and factories must ensure these positive market conditions are reflected in higher prices paid to farmers. Adrian Gallagher said factories are anxious for lambs and farmers should sell hard as lambs become fit.
Lamb Price Update 14/12/2023
Spring Lamb €6.60/6.85/kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €2.70/3.10/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (10.12.2023)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 161 | ▲0 | 986,759 | ▲80,767 |
| Spring Lambs | 55,011 | ▲4,878 | 1,406,326 | ▼-77,470 |
| Ewes and Rams | 6,226 | ▲684 | 317,738 | ▼-51,251 |
| Light Lambs | 2 | ▼-2 | 155 | ▲8 |
| TOTAL | 61,400 | ▲5,560 | 2,710,978 | ▼-47,946 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 49 (10.12.2023)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2022 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 642.23 | ▲5 | 648.58 | ▼-6 |
| YTD Avg | 660.27 | ▼-0 | 681.36 | ▼-21 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 02/11/2023 | 591.5 | 585.8 | New season lamb |
| 09/11/2023 | 588.2 | 588.2 | New season lamb |
| Change | ▼-3 | ▲2 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 722.3 | 722.3 |
Live Sheep Exports Jan-Sep
