Beef Update
IFA Livestock Chairman Declan Hanrahan said cattle supplies have reached extremely low levels as factories struggle to source cattle to fill weekly kills. He said the latest weekly kill of just 24,502 is the third consecutive week throughput has been under 25,000 head. Factories and their agents are actively calling farmers trying to source cattle and are paying well above quoted prices around mart rings to secure cattle. The supply situation of beef cattle is projected to be tight for the remainder of the year, Bord Bia predict a reduction of up to 100,000 cattle for the year he said. Base quotes have increased by 10c/kg this week with prices for steers and heifers now moving at €8.50kg to €8.70kg and €8.60kg to €8.80kg. Young bulls R and U grades are ranging from €7.60kg to €7.90kg. Cow prices have also increased with prices ranging from €6.90kg to €7.70kg depending on the grade. Declan Hanrahan said market conditions are very strong, farmers should sell hard and consider the mart outlet if unable to secure the higher prices as these are frequently above quoted base prices.
Beef Price Update 31/07/2025
Base Steer €7.50/7.70kg. Heifers €7.60/7.80kg. Flat prices €8.20/8.40kg. Higher deals for larger and specialist lots. Y Bulls R/U €7.60/7.90Kg. Cows €6.90/7.70kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 30 (27.07.2025)
| Animal | Number | Change prev wk | % of total | YTD | YTD Change |
| Y Bulls | 1,541 | ▼-18 | 5% | 70,129 | ▼-3,039 |
| Bull | 782 | ▲326 | 2% | 14,686 | ▼-2,279 |
| Steer | 13,056 | ▲4,214 | 40% | 354,606 | ▼-70 |
| Cow | 7,990 | ▲2,018 | 24% | 220,485 | ▼-31,435 |
| Heifer | 9,402 | ▲2,486 | 29% | 307,183 | ▲18,793 |
| Veal-V | 67 | ▲29 | 0% | 2,812 | ▼-16,837 |
| Veal-Z | 20 | ▼-6 | 0% | 1,665 | ▲458 |
| Total | 32,858 | ▲9,049 | 100% | 971,566 | ▲3,665 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 30 (27.07.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | U3 | Change prev wk | R3 | Change prev wk | O3 | Change prev wk | P+3 | Change prev wk |
| Steers | 790 | ▲8 | 785 | ▲13 | 777 | ▲15 | 740 | ▲8 |
| Heifers | 802 | ▲10 | 788 | ▲14 | 782 | ▲13 | 735 | ▲10 |
| Y Bulls | 791 | ▲16 | 776 | ▲13 | 764 | ▲18 | 752 | ▲14 |
| Cows | 0 | ▲0 | 748 | ▲10 | 716 | ▲14 | 699 | ▲10 |
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 |
| 19/07/2025 | 647.5 | 649.7 | 645.2 | 649.1 | 634.1 | 632.2 | 537.8 |
| 26/07/2025 | 650.5 | 651.3 | 647.1 | 651.3 | 637.2 | 635.7 | 539.2 |
| Change | ▲3 | ▲2 | ▲0 | ▲2 | ▲3 | ▲4 | ▲1 |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 817.8 | 818.8 | 813.5 | 818.8 | 801.1 | 799.2 | 677.9 |
Euro Price for the Most Recent Week (€/KG Deadweight excl. VAT)
| Country & Type | 15.07.2025 | 20.07.2025 | 19.7.2025 |
| EU + Y Bulls | € 4.80 | € 5.02 | € 6.79 |
| IE + Steers | € 4.88 | € 5.06 | € 7.36 |
| UK + Steers | € 5.51 | € 5.77 | € 7.41 |
Live Cattle Exports July 21st
Sheep Update
IFA Sheep Chairman Adrian Gallagher said lamb prices are steady this week as factories remain anxious for lambs. Factories are offering prices from €8.30kg to €8.50kg for spring lambs with higher prices for groups and larger lots. Cull ewes are making from €4.60kg to €5.20kg in general. Supplies remain tight and overall throughput is back almost 233,000 head in 2025 with spring lamb throughput back 54,000 head to date in comparison to 2024. The tightening of supplies is evident in mart sales as prices for quality lots are frequently exceeding prices offered by factories he said. Prices in our key export market the UK have increased by 10p/kg in the past week with demand for sheep meat in these markets remaining positive. Adrian Gallagher said factories must ensure these market conditions are reflected in higher prices paid to farmers.
Lamb Price Update 31/07/2025
Spring lambs €8.30/8.50kg, up to 21.5kg available. Higher deals groups/larger lots. Ewes €4.60/5.30/kg.
Supply Figures as Reported by DAFM – WK 30 (27.07.2025)
| Animal | Figure | Change | YTD | YTD Change |
| Lambs/Hoggets | 1369 | ▲421 | 756000 | ▼-137,293 |
| Spring Lambs | 31635 | ▼-2,018 | 344288 | ▼-53,489 |
| Ewes and Rams | 3638 | ▲8 | 97858 | ▼-42,149 |
| Light Lambs | 1 | ▲0 | 112 | ▲10 |
| TOTAL | 36643 | ▼-1,589 | 1198258 | ▼-232,921 |
Official Irish Prices as Reported by DAFM – WK 30 (27.07.2025)
| c/kg (Incl. VAT) | This week | Change prev. wk | 2024 | Change prev. yr |
| National Avg Price | 785.03 | ▲0 | 703.93 | ▲81 |
| YTD Avg | 855.51 | ▼-2 | 798.59 | ▲57 |
Official GB Prices as Reported by AHDB
| R3L | Overall SQQ* | Type of lamb | |
| 19/07/2025 | 746.4 | 743.9 | New season Lamb |
| 26/07/2025 | 757.2 | 754.1 | New season Lamb |
| Change | ▲11 | ▲10 | |
| Price in c/kg (Incl VAT) | 929.8 | 926.0 | 1 |
Live Sheep Exports 02/07/2025
