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Beef & Sheep Update 19th May

Cattle and Sheep in Wicklow Field, Ireland

Beef Update

IFA National Livestock Chair Brendan Golden is reminding farmers that the closing date for the SCEP is next Mon, May 22nd. Brendan Golden said while the targets in the scheme are challenging, there is a good level of flexibility each year to ensure they can be met. He said IFA has made significant progress in ensuring the requirements of the scheme are attainable for suckler farmers.  Given the level of supports available, extending to €3,000 for a 20-cow herd, it is important these monies are drawn down. He said application levels to date are strong and it is vital for the sector and the delivery of additional supports for suckler farmers that all farmers apply to this scheme. He met yesterday and discussed the scheme. He said every opportunity should be provided to maximise participation including, if necessary, extending the closing date to ensure all farmers who want to participate in the scheme are facilitated. Brendan Golden said there is nothing for farmers to fear in this scheme and he strongly urged all suckler farmers to make their applications.

Beef Price Update 18/05/2023

Base Quotes Steer €5.15/5.25kg. Heifers €5.20/5.30kg. Higher deals and flat prices for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €5.30/5.40Kg. Cows €4.50/5.00kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)

AnimalNumberChange prev wk% of totalYTDYTD Change
Y Bulls2348▲1457%47557▼-8,400 
Bull698▲42%9604▼-383 
Steer12439▲10539%227376▼-11,966 
Cow6986▲4522%141689▼-4,243 
Heifer9169▲84429%184014▼-10,686 
Veal-V4▼-34 0%30379▲2,553
Veal-Z22▼-1 0%841▲17
Total31666▲1,108100%641460▼-33,108 

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)U3Change prev wkR3Change prev wkO3Change prev wkP+3Change prev wk
Steers563▲0553▼-1 543▼-2 509▲1
Heifers570▼-4 557▼-2 549▲2498▲2
Y Bulls552▼-3 538▼-2 522▲3509▲3
Cows0▲0501▼-9 470▼-4 451▼-5 

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 SteersSteersHeifersHeifersY bullY bullCow
p/kgR3R4LR3R4LR3R4L-O4L
06/05/2023499.2502.3498.2500.7494492.6408.3
13/05/2023499.7502.9493.4499.0502.1489.9494.4
Change▲1▲1▲1▲1▲0▲3▲1
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)606.5610.4605.7609.4600.1601.2496.7

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

Country & Type01.05.202130.04.202206.05.2023
EU + Y Bulls€ 3.82€ 5.14€ 5.07
IE + Steers€ 4.09€ 4.90€ 5.27
UK + Steers € 4.68€ 5.21€ 5.60

Live Exports W/C 01.05.2023


Sheep Update

IFA Sheep Chairman Kevin Comiskey said the Minister for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue has to step up for sheep farmers. The IFA Chairman said the income crisis on sheep farms is there for everybody to see, with Teagasc figures clearly showing the extent of the problem for sheep farmers last year where incomes collapsed by over 80% to just €7/ewe, which included the Sheep Welfare payment. Since the turn of the year the situation has been compounded by weak market prices, a scenario that shouldn’t be a surprise to the Minister either, as he is well aware of the market predictions published by Bord Bia for the sheep sector. “The failure of factories and the market place to-date this year to return prices to sheep farmers is compounding the problem. What seems to be lacking here is a will from the Minister to support our second largest farm sector,” he said. 

Lamb Price Update 18/05/2023 

Hogget €7.20/7.60/kg. Spr Lamb €7.90/8.10/kg. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €3.30/3.80/kg.

Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)

AnimalFigureChangeYTDYTD Change
Lambs/Hoggets25936▼-6,308 877355▲41,815
Spring Lambs15565▲4,86445697▼-15,500 
Ewes and Rams5544▲589100592▲1,994
Light Lambs3▼-4 99▲51
TOTAL47048▼-859 1023743▲28,360

Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 19 (14.05.2023)

c/kg (Incl. VAT)WK 19Change prev wk2022Change prev yr
National Avg Price750.68▲19744.22▲6
YTD Avg655.87▲16700.78▼-45 

Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB

 R3L Overall SQQ*Type of lamb
06/05/2023678.6669.3Old season lamb
13/05/2023679.9671.5Old season lamb
Change▲1▲2 
Price in c/kg (Incl VAT)825.3815.1 

Live Sheep Exports 01.04.2023

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