Beef & Sheep Update 16th October

Beef Update

IFA Livestock Chair Declan Hanrahan said cattle prices continue to strengthen as supplies tighten on the ground. He said factories are struggling to secure numbers of cattle to fill orders and are paying 10c/kg to 20c/kg above quotes to tie down deals this week. Demand at mart sales has also intensified as factories source cattle for next day processing.

Prices in the UK have increased by up to 10p/kg this week while EU prices continue to strengthen and are now 20c/kg above our prices. He said factories must move to close this gap and return the full value of the marketplace with higher prices to beef farmers. This week factories are offering prices from €6.70kg to €6.90kg and €6.80kg to €7.00kg for heifers.

Young bulls R and U grades are making from €6.80kg to €7.10kg. Flats deals up to €7.30kg have been secure for larger and specialised lots. Cull cows are making from €6.10kg to €6.60kg depending on the grade. The IFA Livestock Chair said prices in our key markets are strengthening pointing to strong and favourable conditions which must be returned with higher beef prices.

Beef Price Update 16/10/2026

Base Steer €6.70/6.90kg. Heifers €6.80/7.00kg. Flat deals up to €7.30kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €6.80/7.10Kg. Cows €6.10/6.60kg

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 41 (11.10.2026)

Animal	Number	Change prev wk	% of total	YTD	YTD Change
Y Bulls	1,240	▼-124	4%	85,820	▲1,750
Bull	399	▼-48	1%	20,500	▲844
Steer	15,638	▼-369	44%	492,888	▲2,919
Cow	7,011	▲34	20%	271,107	▼-7,743
Heifer	10,757	▲1,256	31%	379,833	▼-11,922
Veal-V	57	▼-127	0%	1,972	▼-1,145
Veal-Z	59	▼-125	0%	2,328	▲487
Total	35,161	▲657	100%	1,254,448	▼-14,810

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 41 (11.10.2026)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)	U3	Change prev wk	R3	Change prev wk	O3	Change prev wk	P+3	Change prev wk
Steers	712	▲5	705	▲5	694	▲4	669	▲1
Heifers	719	▲3	709	▲4	702	▲3	668	▲5
Y Bulls	701	▼-1	697	▲0	687	▲5	681	▲9
Cows	0	▲0	666	▲5	636	▲3	620	▲0

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
03/10/2026	641.9	644.7	642.4	644.8	622.7	621.6	496.2
10/10/2026	651.9	652.0	649.4	651.7	638.3	633.2	505.6
Change	▲10	▲7	▲0	▲7	▲16	▲12	▲9
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	800.5	800.6	797.4	800.2	783.8	777.5	620.8

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

Country & Type	12.10.2024	11.10.2025	10.10.2026
EU + Y Bulls R3	5.31	7.10	6.46
IE + Steers R3	5.05	7.23	6.74
UK + Steers R3	6.11	7.47	7.57

Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices remain steady, but factories are very active sourcing slaughter fit lambs. He said factory agents are competing very strongly in marts where prices paid are on par or above what factories are offering in cases. He said supplies of sheep meat will be down this year across the EU and UK and factories must take full advantage of the marketplace and maximise returns to sheep farmers.

The EU sheep population declined by 2.2% in 2025 and the EU’s total sheep flock is now 12% lower than its 2015 levels. Production trends have forecasted a sharp decline of sheep production across the EU of up to 17.8% between the second semester of 2025 and 2026 with UK sheep production forecasted to fall approximately 3% in 2026.

The IFA Sheep Chair said the figures highlight the seriousness of the decline in sheep numbers across the EU and UK and the need for factories to step up and deliver stronger returns to sheep farmers. He said factories must recognise the importance of maintaining a viable sheep sector by ensuring prices reflect the current market realities and the tightening availability of lamb.

Lamb Price Update 16/10/2026

Spring lamb €8.10/8.40kg. Weights to 22.5kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.50/5.00/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 41 (11.10.2026)

Animal	Figure	Change	YTD	YTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets	437	▲216	699,635	▼-60,088
Spring Lambs	32,829	▼-1,458	721,647	▲858
Ewes and Rams	7,580	▼-245	235,317	▲79,675
Light Lambs	0	▲0	2	▼-128
TOTAL	40,846	▼-1,487	1,656,601	▲20,317

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 41 (11.10.2026)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)	This week	Change prev. wk	2025	Change prev. yr
National Avg Price	790.67	▲7	749.94	▲41
YTD Avg	847.95	▼-2	829.27	▲6

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

	R3L	Overall SQQ*	Type of lamb
03/10/2026	733.5	731.6	New season Lamb
10/10/2026	726.5	723.7	New season Lamb
Change	▼-7	▼-8
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)	892.1	888.6	1