Beef & Sheep UpdateCattleCattle PricesSheepSheep Prices

Beef & Sheep Update 18th January

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow Field, Ireland

Beef Update

Speaking at the Bord Bia Marketplace seminar today, IFA President Francie Gorman said the analysis on the proposed Mercosur trade deal by Meat Industry Ireland (MII) backs up the concerns raised by beef farmers here and across Europe. The analysis shows that the Irish beef sector would be hit for between €100m and €130m because of our export profile. This would equate to a loss of €75-€95/head. There is a clear commitment in the draft Programme for Government that the Irish Government will work with other like-minded EU member states to oppose the deal. “The new Government needs to hit the ground the running to block this flawed deal,” he said The IFA President said that in his role as Vice Chair of COPA he will be working with farm organisations across Europe and the IFA office in Brussels to oppose the deal. “The new EU Agriculture and Food Commissioner Christopher Hansen will be the attending the 70th IFA AGM in the Irish Farm Centre next Thursday. We be reiterating our message about the potential damage this deal could do to the Irish beef sector,” he said. “Our MEPs will also have an important role here. Given the critical importance of our livestock sector to the rural economy, we expect them to resolutely oppose the deal. It got a very lukewarm warm reception in the EU Parliament yesterday and I believe opposition is building,” he said.

Beef Price Update 16/01/2025

Base Quotes Steer €5.70/5.80kg. Heifers €5.80/5.90kg. Fla prices €6.20/6.30kg paid. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.80/6.10Kg. Cows €5.00/5.70kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 02 (12.01.2024)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls3167▲21210%6122▼-8 
Bull238▲501%426▼-137 
Steer11045▲49635%21594▼-327 
Cow5681▼-799 18%12161▼-3,686 
Heifer10895▲99135%20799▲225
Veal-V23▲00%46▲10
Veal-Z152▲1120%192▲128
Total31201▲1,062100%61340▲3,665

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 02 (12.01.2024)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers609▲7601▲7594▲7570▲13
Heifers612▲6603▲7600▲5556▲11
Y Bulls603▲1596▲6582▲7573▲2
Cows0▲0551▲8516▲6498▲7

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
04/01/2025556.2566.3560.9562.3551.2547.7405.7
11/01/2025562.7570.9566.8570.4553.1550.4416.8
Change▲7▲5▲4▲8▲2▲3▲11
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)707.4717.7712.5717.1695.3691.9524.0

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

Country & Type202223.12.202328.12.2024
EU + Y BullsNot available€ 4.96€ 5.61
IE + SteersNot available€ 4.96€ 5.64
UK + Steers Not available€ 5.61€ 6.65

Live Cattle Exports 30th December


Sheep Update

IFA sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices continue to move upwards as factories struggle to source numbers of suitable lambs to fill weekly kills. He said the tightening of lamb supplies are projected to remain right here and across the main markets we sell into in the coming weeks with prices in these countries the UK and France continuing in an upward trajectory indicating the strength of lamb in these markets. Factories are offering deals for lambs from €9.20kg to €9.50kg on weights to 24k with the higher price becoming a lot easier to negotiate Adrian Gallagher said. Cull ewe prices have also increased and are now making up to €5.20kg on weights over 20kg. The IFA sheep Chairman said farmers should weigh up their options when marketing lambs and consider the mart outlet which continues to be a viable alternative for sellers.

Lamb Price Update 16/01/2025

Lambs €9.20kg/9.50kg. Weights to 24kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.80/5.20/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 02 (12.01.2025)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets31679▲15,24148117▼-36,451 
Spring Lambs0▼-17,278 17278▲8,707
Ewes and Rams2328▼-222 4878▼-5,642 
Light Lambs1▲11▼-4 
TOTAL34008▼-2,258 70274▼-33,390 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 02 (12.01.2025)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)This week Change prev. wk2024Change prev. yr
National Avg Price755.07▲13630.58▲213
YTD Avg774.29▲7662.54▲208

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
04/01/2025712.7708.1New season Lamb
11/01/2025730.0723.6New season Lamb
Change▲17▲16 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)896.4888.51

Live Sheep Exports 2024

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