Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factory demand for cattle strengthens as supplies fail to meet demand. He said supplies of cattle are extremely tight on the ground and despite factories best efforts in slowing the kill, factories have been unable to build numbers. Throughput this year numbers will be down 4-5% compared to 2025. With indications of strong live export demand again this year, factories will not have any surplus of cattle available to them. Factories are freely paying 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to secure supplies. He said beef production in our key export markets is also down and this supply and demand balance must deliver stronger prices for farmers. Factories are offering prices from €7.00kg to €7.20kg for steers and €7.10kg to €7.30kg for heifers. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €7.20kg to €7.50kg. Cow prices are ranging from €6.30kg to €7.00kg depending on the grade.
Beef Price Update 16/01/2026
Base Steer €7.00/7.20kg. Heifers €7.10/7.30kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.20/7.50Kg. Cows €6.30/7.00kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (04.01.2026)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 3,155 | ▲851 | 10% | 5,464 | ▲2,297 |
| Bull | 218 | ▼-31 | 1% | 469 | ▲231 |
| Steer | 10,651 | ▲1,908 | 34% | 19,511 | ▲8,466 |
| Cow | 5,963 | ▲2,562 | 19% | 9,427 | ▲3,746 |
| Heifer | 10,746 | ▲3,101 | 35% | 18,436 | ▲7,541 |
| Veal-V | 48 | ▲43 | 0% | 53 | ▲30 |
| Veal-Z | 302 | ▲257 | 1% | 347 | ▲195 |
| Total | 31,083 | ▲8,691 | 100% | 53,707 | ▲22,506 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (04.01.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 762 | ▼-3 | 756 | ▼-5 | 747 | ▼-5 | 718 | ▼-2 |
| Heifers | 774 | ▼-6 | 764 | ▼-3 | 754 | ▼-9 | 716 | ▲0 |
| Y Bulls | 752 | ▼-6 | 748 | ▼-3 | 731 | ▼-2 | 724 | ▼-7 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 704 | ▼-5 | 667 | ▼-5 | 649 | ▼-7 |
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 |
| 03/01/2026 | 652 | 656.1 | 652.2 | 655.4 | 641.1 | 639.3 | 519.8 |
| 10/01/2026 | 653.1 | 656.5 | 651.2 | 655.9 | 641.9 | 645.3 | 525.0 |
| Change | ▲1 | ▲0 | ▲0 | ▲1 | ▲1 | ▲6 | ▲5 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 801.9 | 806.1 | 799.6 | 805.4 | 788.2 | 792.4 | 644.7 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 30.12.2023 | 04.01.2025 | 03.01.2026 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.97 | € 5.61 | N/A |
| IE + Steers | € 5.03 | € 5.64 | € 7.21 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.64 | € 6.65 | N/A |
Live Cattle Exports 5th January
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said tight supplies and firm demand for sheep meat are driving the trade in our key export markets. He said lamb prices in the UK increased by over 20p/kg since before Christmas and are currently the equivalent of €8.77/kg with French prices approaching €10/kg. Adrian Gallagher said sheep factories here must reflect the reality of the marketplace and start returning prices similar to those available in our key export markets. The IFA Sheep Chair said factories are acutely aware of the fact we have lost over 800,000 lambs for processing over the last two years and the urgent need to stop this decline in our sheep sector. He said the starting point to rebuild confidence is strong and fair prices that reflect the value of our key markets for sheep meat. Adrian Gallagher said there is almost 80c/kg of a gap between our price currently and the Uk price which must be closed by factories here increasing prices. The IFA Sheep Chair said Ramadan commences in the middle of February this year which will increase demand for sheep meat at a time when supplies will be extremely tight. He said markets are currently stronger than the prices offered and demand for sheep meat will increase in the coming weeks. Adrian Gallagher said factories must start reflecting the reality of the marketplace in higher prices for lambs.
Lamb Price Update 15/01/2026
Lambs €7.80/8.10kg. Weights to 23kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.40/5.00/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (04.01.2026)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 3,427 | ▲3,423 | 3,427 | ▼-13,011 |
| Spring Lambs | 32,697 | ▲10,571 | 32,697 | ▲15,419 |
| Ewes and Rams | 2,217 | ▲1,141 | 2,217 | ▼-333 |
| Light Lambs | 0 | ▲0 | 0 | ▼-38 |
| TOTAL | 38,341 | ▲15,135 | 38,341 | ▲2,037 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 01 (04.01.2026)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2025 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 750.87 | ▲6 | 862.15 | ▼-111 |
| YTD Avg | 847.95 | ▼-61 | 862.15 | ▼-111 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 03/01/2025 | 721.2 | 721.0 | New season Lamb |
| 10/01/2026 | 722.9 | 720.2 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲2 | ▼-1 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 887.7 | 884.3 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
