Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said factories are actively sourcing cattle on the ground as supply numbers tighten. He said factory agents are very active in marts this week and are paying well above what factories are offering for live cattle. Quotes for steers and heifers are €7.50kg and €7.60kg this week but factories are been forced to pay more than what they offering to secure cattle. Prices 10c/kg to 20c/kg above initial quotes have been secured this week when pushed. The latest weeks kill fell just under 3,000 head with steers and heifer throughput falling for the 5th consecutive week. Cattle throughput is projected to be back 7% in Q2 and 2% in Q3 2025 and is going to leave cattle supplies very tight in the coming weeks and months for processers. Cow prices remain very strong this week. Prices are ranging from €6.50kg to P grades up to €7.30 and above for quality U grade cows. Young bulls R and U grades are making from €7.40kg to €7.80kg. The IFA Livestock Chair said farmers should sell hard be mindful of the mart outlet where prices remain very competitive to what factories are offering.
Beef Price Update 16/05/2025
Base Steer €7.40/7.60kg. Heifers €7.50/7.70kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.40/7.80Kg. Cows €6.50/7.40kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (11.05.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,654 | ▼-125 | 6% | 44,377 | ▼-786 |
| Bull | 633 | ▲93 | 2% | 8,988 | ▼-293 |
| Steer | 11,483 | ▼-1,005 | 39% | 244,294 | ▲11,695 |
| Cow | 6,116 | ▼-1,110 | 21% | 151,127 | ▼-9,765 |
| Heifer | 9,820 | ▼-459 | 33% | 217,407 | ▲24,019 |
| Veal-V | 25 | ▼-24 | 0% | 2,402 | ▼-15,488 |
| Veal-Z | 33 | ▼-10 | 0% | 1,343 | ▲398 |
| Total | 29,764 | ▼-2,640 | 100% | 669,938 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (11.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 799 | ▲2 | 793 | ▲3 | 785 | ▲3 | 749 | ▲4 |
| Heifers | 808 | ▲3 | 796 | ▲4 | 787 | ▲3 | 739 | ▲4 |
| Y Bulls | 788 | ▲1 | 772 | ▲3 | 754 | ▲10 | 739 | ▼-3 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 741 | ▲9 | 692 | ▲5 | 675 | ▲6 |
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 |
| 03/05/2025 | 709.8 | 713.3 | 707 | 712.8 | 698.5 | 699.7 | 562.5 |
| 10/05/2025 | 703.7 | 709.6 | 700.8 | 708.4 | 695.3 | 696.2 | 565.9 |
| Change | ▼-6 | ▼-4 | ▲4 | ▼-4 | ▼-3 | ▼-4 | ▲3 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 884.7 | 892.1 | 881.0 | 890.6 | 874.1 | 875.2 | 711.4 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 2022 | 2023 | 03.05.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | not available | not available | € 6.51 |
| IE + Steers | not available | not available | € 8.23 |
| UK + Steers | not available | not available | € 8.23 |
Live Cattle Exports 28th April
Sheep Update
Following a joint sheep meeting in Co Louth between the Irish Farmers’ Association and the Ulster Farmers Union, both organisations are calling for immediate and co-ordinated all-island measures to address the growing crisis of uncontrolled dogs across the country. The current fragmented approach to dog ownership regulation is failing farmers, particularly in border areas where enforcement is vulnerable. Too often we hear from farmers in these areas whose sheep have been mauled or killed by roaming dogs, and there is no system in place to hold anyone accountable. Dogs from either side of the border cannot be identified or tracked, as there is no joined-up, all-island system to trace these dogs. To address this, IFA and the UFU are calling for co-ordination and co-operation between authorities with a database that fully integrates licensing and microchipping information and clearly identifies the person responsible for each dog. This system must be accessible to enforcement bodies on both sides of the border to ensure that no dog or owner can go unidentified. There must be full enforcement of existing microchipping and licensing obligations for all dog owners, alongside stronger and clearer enforcement powers for dog wardens, An Garda Síochána and the PSNI. Penalties for failing to comply must be increased, including substantial on-the-spot fines for unlicensed or uncontrolled dogs right across the island.
Lamb Price Update 16/05/2025
Hoggets €8.30kg/8.70kg. Spring lambs €9.20kg to €9.50kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €5.50/5.80/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (11.05.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 24,929 | ▼-6,796 | 670,736 | ▼-124,551 |
| Spring Lambs | 8,933 | ▲3,328 | 37,791 | ▲2,042 |
| Ewes and Rams | 2,600 | ▼-922 | 58,271 | ▼-30,661 |
| Light Lambs | 7 | ▲2 | 78 | ▲13 |
| TOTAL | 36,469 | ▼-4,388 | 766,876 | ▼-153,157 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (11.05.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 870.31 | ▲1 | 917.98 | ▼-34 |
| YTD Avg | 878.31 | ▼-0 | 781.05 | ▲90 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 03/05/2025 | 696.8 | 686.2 | New season Lamb |
| 10/05/2025 | 684.2 | 673.9 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▼-13 | ▼-12 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 840.1 | 827.5 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 2025
